Pasta is such a crowd-pleaser, and, unless you’re carb-loading, a light pasta is preferred. This Angel-Hair Pasta With Shrimp And Greens is simply lovely – vibrant greens lend powerful nutrients and sautéed fresh cherry tomatoes burst with sweetness. Red pepper flakes, garlic, fresh basil, and lemon flavor this dish with citrusy vibrance and just enough heat. Protein-packed shrimp are an elegant, antioxidant-rich addition. You won’t find a prettier pasta, and this one is just as delicious served at room temperature as it is hot, qualifying it as a great dish to serve at a get-together because the pressure is off to get it to the table piping hot. At only 420 calories per serving, we think you’ll really enjoy this simple, healthful addition to your pasta repertoire.
Here are the tomatoes in their sweet, juicification process. It really is a magical:
This recipe calls for escarole – a tender yet hearty green – that isn’t extremely widely available. We’ve gotten ours from Sprouts before but it’s pretty hit-and-miss at other grocery stores. We recommend calling ahead to see if your grocer has it available. If not, other greens will work just fine.
We are pretty picky about shrimp. They must adhere to strict textural qualifications (be firm and gray when raw and really meaty – not grainy, for lack of a better word – when cooked. It’s hard to describe the textural difference between “good” and “bad” shrimp, but there is a difference). They should smell of the sea but not bad. We are always happy with the raw shrimp in Costco’s frozen case. Use the medium size shrimp for this recipe.
We used these greens from Trader Joe’s (unsponsored):
Let your kids dump ingredients into the serving bowl. As you prepare and enjoy this dish with those you love, teach them a few things about the ingredients:
- Shrimp is a good source of copper, which strengthens your body tissue.
- Mixed greens give you folate, which helps keep you from having heart problems.
- Eating garlic may help keep your immune system strong.
Pasta totally makes one think of Italy, but we talk about Italy all the time. Let’s learn a few things about Switzerland, just for fun:
- Switzerland is covered in beautiful, picturesque mountains and lakes.
- Many businesses in Switzerland close for a couple hours so their employees can have a nice lunch.
- Unlike in the U.S., teachers are one of the best paying jobs in Switzerland.
From: Angel-Hair Pasta with Shrimp and Greens
- Kosher salt
- 8 ounces angel-hair pasta
- 8 cups chopped escarole, kale and/or Swiss chard
- 1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Freshly ground pepper
- 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
- ½ cup fresh basil, chopped
- Grated zest and juice of ½ lemon
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook as the label directs, adding the greens to the water. Drain and rinse under cold water; transfer to a large bowl.
- Combine the shrimp, red pepper flakes, ½ teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper in a medium bowl. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and cook until golden, about 1 minute. Add the shrimp and cook until pink, about 3 minutes per side. Add the tomatoes and cook, stirring often, until slightly softened, about 2 minutes.
- Add the shrimp mixture to the bowl with the pasta along with the basil and lemon zest and juice; toss to combine.
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