Description
Luxurious pasta combines fresh asparagus and succulent shrimp in a silky sauce that whispers Italian coastal charm. Diners will savor each forkful of this elegant seafood dish, discovering pure Mediterranean magic with every delightful bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound (454 g) shrimp, peeled and deveined
- ½ pound (227 g) linguine
- 1 pound (454 g) asparagus
- 3 tbsps minced garlic (2 to 3 cloves)
- 2 tbsps minced chives, divided
- 4 chive blossoms
- ½ cup (120 ml) half-and-half
- ½ cup grated Pecorino cheese
- 4 tbsps unsalted butter, divided
- Coarse sea salt
- Freshly ground pepper
Instructions
- Preparation: Trim asparagus spears and slice diagonally into thin strips, creating elegant bite-sized pieces.
- Pasta Cooking: Boil salted water and cook linguine until al dente, approximately 8-9 minutes. Reserve starchy pasta water before draining.
- Asparagus Sautéing: Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Sauté asparagus strips for 3-4 minutes until tender-crisp and vibrantly green. Transfer to a separate plate.
- Shrimp Searing: In the same skillet, add butter and sear shrimp in batches. Cook 1-2 minutes per side until pink with a light golden exterior. Remove and set aside.
- Aromatics Infusion: Reduce heat and add minced garlic and chives. Sauté 30 seconds until fragrant, releasing their aromatic essence.
- Sauce Creation: Pour half and half into the skillet, stirring continuously. Gradually sprinkle Pecorino cheese, whisking until the sauce becomes smooth and creamy.
- Combining Elements: Fold cooked asparagus and shrimp into the silky sauce, ensuring even coating. Adjust consistency with reserved pasta water if needed.
- Plating and Serving: Plate linguine, ladle creamy sauce over pasta. Garnish with chive blossoms and freshly ground black pepper. Serve immediately while hot and luxuriously creamy.
Notes
- Pasta Water Magic: Reserved starchy water helps create a silky, perfectly balanced sauce consistency by adding moisture and helping ingredients bind together.
- Searing Seafood Secret: Cook shrimp in small batches to maintain high skillet temperature, ensuring beautiful golden exterior and preventing steaming or overcrowding.
- Asparagus Precision: Slice diagonally and cook briefly to preserve vibrant green color and crisp-tender texture, preventing mushiness and maintaining nutritional value.
- Cheese Melting Technique: Gradually sprinkle and whisk Pecorino to prevent clumping, creating a smooth, creamy sauce without lumps or grainy texture.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 490
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 44 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 180 mg