Description
Indulgent creamy broccoli shrimp alfredo delivers a luxurious pasta experience that blends tender seafood with rich, velvety sauce. Marine and garden flavors dance together, promising a restaurant-quality meal you can savor right at home.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 1 lb shrimp (peeled, deveined)
- 2 cups broccoli florets
Pasta:
- 12 ounces (340 grams) fettuccine (or pasta of choice)
Sauce and Seasoning:
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1.5 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 0.5 teaspoon salt
- 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
- 0.5 teaspoon garlic powder
- 0.25 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)
- 0.5 teaspoon salt
- 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
- 0.5 teaspoon paprika
Instructions
- Prepare a large pot of generously salted water and bring to a rolling boil. Cook fettuccine until nearly al dente, approximately 6-7 minutes.
- During the final 3 minutes of pasta cooking, introduce broccoli florets directly into the boiling water to ensure simultaneous cooking.
- Drain the pasta and broccoli thoroughly, preserving 1/2 cup of starchy cooking liquid for potential sauce adjustment. Set aside.
- Heat a skillet over medium-high temperature, adding butter to create a golden cooking surface.
- Season shrimp with a blend of salt, pepper, and paprika, ensuring even coating across each piece.
- Sear shrimp in the heated skillet, cooking approximately 1-2 minutes per side until they transform to a vibrant pink and become translucent. Remove and reserve.
- In the same skillet, combine butter and olive oil, creating a rich cooking medium.
- Introduce minced garlic, sautéing rapidly for 30 seconds to release aromatic oils without browning.
- Pour heavy cream into the skillet, allowing it to reach a gentle simmer. Incorporate Parmesan cheese, stirring consistently.
- Season the developing sauce with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and optional red pepper flakes for subtle heat.
- Simmer sauce for 2-3 minutes, whisking until achieving a smooth, luxurious consistency.
- Fold cooked pasta, broccoli, and reserved shrimp into the creamy sauce, gently tossing to ensure complete coverage.
- If sauce appears too dense, gradually introduce reserved pasta water to achieve desired creaminess.
- Allow mixture to warm through for an additional 1-2 minutes, melding flavors comprehensively.
- Transfer to serving plates, garnishing with additional Parmesan cheese and freshly chopped parsley. Serve immediately while piping hot.
Notes
- Quickly pat shrimp dry before cooking to ensure a perfect golden sear and prevent watery texture.
- For a lighter version, swap heavy cream with half-and-half or whole milk mixed with cornstarch for thickening.
- Gluten-free option works great by using chickpea or rice pasta instead of traditional fettuccine.
- Toast garlic briefly to enhance its nutty flavor without burning, which can make the sauce bitter.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 586 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 557 mg
- Fat: 36 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 44 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 135 mg