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penne with shrimp & asparagus

penne with shrimp & asparagus

Adapted from Food52 Genius Recipes, from Craig Claiborne's Pasta con Asparagi 

The New York Times Cookbook (1979)

Pasta with shrimp, asparagus and a rich tomato sauce.

Servings 8 servings
Author Rosemary Stelmach

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 1 pound jumbo shrimp, peeled & deveined
  • 1 1/2 pounds fresh asparagus, trimmed
  • salt & freshly ground pepper
  • 2 1/2 tablespoons olive oil (1/2 tbsp. = 1 tsp.)
  • 2 garlic cloves, whole
  • 2 cups canned Italian plum tomatoes, roughly chopped or torn (about 18 ounces)
  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh parsley
  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh basil, plus extra for garnish
  • 3/4 pound penne, rigatoni or other tubular pasta
  • 2 eggs plus one yolk, beaten well with a fork
  • 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan, divided into two 1/4 cups

Instructions

  1. Have all the ingredients for this recipe prepared and ready to cook before beginning.  Bring about 3 quarts of salted water to a boil and have it ready for the pasta.

  2. Heat the butter in a large, deep skillet and add the shrimp.  Cook until the shrimp are opaque and just cooked through.  With a slotted spoon or spatula, transfer them to a large plate or platter.

  3. Cut the asparagus into lengths about 2 inches long. If the stalks are thick, cut them in half or quarter them. Leave the tips in tact.  Add the asparagus pieces to the skillet.  Salt and pepper to taste.  Cook for 4 to 5 minutes, or until crisp-tender and lightly browned.  Transfer the asparagus to the plate holding the shrimp and reserve.

  4. In the same pan, add the oil and garlic.  Cook until the garlic cloves are lightly browned.   Remove and discard the garlic.  Add the tomatoes, parsley and basil.  Salt and pepper to taste.  Cook, stirring, for about 10 minutes.

  5. Meanwhile, add the pasta to the boiling water and, when it returns to a boil, cook for about 7 minutes or until al dente.  (Or follow package directions)  Do not overcook.

  6. Just before the pasta is done, turn off the heat under the tomatoes and add the beaten eggs, stirring vigorously so that they blend without curdling.  Do not boil the sauce after the eggs are added.  (If you are nervous about curdling the eggs, you may temper them in, by stirring a ladleful of the hot tomato sauce into the eggs, then whisking the mixture back into the pan.)

  7. Add the shrimp and asparagus to the tomato sauce and stir to blend.

  8. Drain the pasta immediately.  Add the pasta to the tomato sauce, shrimp and asparagus mixture and toss with half the cheese.  Serve piping hot with the remaining cheese on the side.