Garlic Shrimp Pasta Recipe

by Self-improvement-health.com

This restaurant-inspired garlic shrimp pasta recipe is rich and flavourful with 68% less sat fat, 31% fewer calories and 70% more vitamin A than the original recipe.

I first tasted a garlic shrimp pasta ages ago when I was living in Umbria, Italy. We were vacationing on a small island just off the coast of Roma and the chef had just visited the docks and returned with a bag of fresh shrimp. He put the pasta on to boil, cleaned and chopped the shrimp, and added a little butter, white wine, garlic and red pepper.

It was delicious, similar to a shrimp scampi type of dish. I have made the healthier version of this simple recipe many times since, and it always brings back memories of that day. Since you chop the shrimp anyway, don't buy the large expensive kind. Small to medium sized are just fine!


Garlic Shrimp Pasta Recipe:

Ingredients:

2 lbs of medium sized shrimp (remove tails and devein shrimp prior to use)

2 lbs of angel hair pasta (use the Garden Pasta or Whole Wheat versions for a healthier twist)

14-18 cloves of garlic/ peeled and crushed

¼-1/3 cup of butter

2 tablespoons of hot chili sauce

Lemon pepper seasoning, salt-substitute, freshly ground black pepper, crushed red pepper flakes

Chopped green onions- (4-6)

Cashew nuts (1-2 ounces)


Preparation:

• Prepare pasta according to directions below, but cook for about a minute less than it is stated on the package. This will allow for the additional cooking time that will take place once you combine the pasta with the freshly cooked shrimp and pan-sauce.

• Always use a big pot to cook pasta and use at least 100-120 ounces of water per 1 pound of pasta.

• Do not overcrowd the pasta in the cooking pot. It is best to cook no more than 1 pound of pasta at a time, unless you are using a huge pot.


• It is usually recommended that you add 2 teaspoons of salt per each 3 ounces of pasta during the cooking process. However you can certainly use less salt, and you can even use other herbs or a salt substitute to flavor the pasta as it boils.


Cooking Directions for Sauteed Garlic Shrimp Pasta Recipe:

• Reserve 2 cups of water when you drain the pasta.

• Add the butter to a large saucepan and melt over a low/medium heat.

• Add the garlic and cook for at least 4-5 minutes so the rich flavor is unleashed.

• Add shrimp and cook just until the color turns pink.

• Add about ½-1 cup of the reserved water to the mixture along with hot chili sauce.

• Adjust heat to medium/med-high heat and cook for about 3 minutes.

• Now add the pasta and continue to stir until the flavors are combined, about 3-4 minutes.

*You can add chopped green onions and cashew nuts as a topping if desired.


*Here I'd like to tell you about my favorite diet program that uses a lot of the healthy lower GI foods: Isabel de los Rios' 'The Diet Solution Program'.

The Diet Solution Program favours a long term health orientated approach to fat loss, but not offering anyone a quick fix to their weight troubles. It has loads of valuable data and research to support its approach. I personally investigated the program thoroughly and my mum has been using it for a while now. I have to say she got some great results.

The nutrition plan is one of the healthiest we have seen, a strong core focus on vegetables, fruits, vitamin dense foods, lean proteins, select dairy produce and a clear approach to not expecting one diet to work for all body types. So give it a try and let me know how you’re doing.*

Original Garlic Shrimp Pasta Recipe