Craving a restaurant-worthy creamy garlic prawn pasta without the fuss? This recipe delivers a decadent and flavorful dish that's surprisingly simple to make.
Get ready to impress yourself (and anyone lucky enough to share it!) with a foolproof method for achieving the perfect, non-watery sauce.
Ingredients
Alright, let's explore into what you'll need to whip up this creamy dream! First, grab 8 oz of fettuccine—or any long pasta you love. Now, butter! You'll want 2 tablespoons, but keep 'em separate.
Next up, prawns! Get 10 oz of those little guys, peeled and raw—like they're ready for a tan! Now, for some zing, 3 minced garlic cloves. We're gettin' fancy with 1/4 cup of dry white wine. If wine isn't your thing, chicken broth works too.
Cream time! Use 1 cup of heavy cream—'cause we're being indulgent! A recipe similar to this one could also bake the prawns for a different flavor. Mix in 1/2 cup chicken broth, low sodium if ya got it. Finally, 3/4 cup freshly grated parmesan, plus parsley and black pepper to taste. Boom, ingredients acquired!
Preparation Instructions
With your ingredients assembled, it's now time to start cooking! First, take a large pot; fill it with water, and bring the water to a boil.
While the water's heating up – anticipation! – there are a couple of things I always do beforehand:
- Get your colander ready. Trust me; you don't wanna be scrambling when the pasta's done.
- Grab a liquid measuring cup and set it aside with the skillet. You'll need it for the pasta water, which is liquid gold.
- Measure out your parmesan cheese and have it ready to incorporate into the cream sauce, so It's always in arms reach. It adds a wonderful salty and nutty flavor to the dish.
Once the water is boiling, toss in the fettuccine. Make sure to cook it according to the package directions – but, pro tip, subtract one minute to the time! I do this because we're finishing the pasta in the sauce.
Cooking the Prawns
Now, let's get to cooking the prawns, which'll take just a few minutes! I melt one tablespoon of butter in a large, non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. We don't want those prawns sticking, right?
Next, I add the prawns and cook them for about 1 1/2 minutes on each side. You'll know they're ready when they're just cooked through—nice and pink! Think of it like giving them a quick sun tan.
I remove the prawns from the skillet. Set them aside, because we will need them later. Trust me though, this will only take about 3 minutes. Remember to set them aside, you don't want to forget to add them after everything else is already finished!
Making the Sauce
Having finished the prawns, I move onto the sauce—the heart of our creamy garlic prawn pasta! First, melt the remaining butter. Next, sauté the minced garlic until fragrant—about 20 seconds should do! Now, deglaze the pan with white wine; this will add depth. Let it simmer for a couple of minutes until it reduces slightly.
Next, I'm adding cream, broth, and parmesan. Stir until the parmesan melts, then simmer until it thickens a bit. And, here is where it gets interesting!
- The sauce will thicken more when you add the pasta.
- I strongly recommend tossing the pasta in the sauce right on the stove.
- Be sure to save some pasta water—it's liquid gold for adjusting the sauce consistency!
I'm telling you, you're going to love this step. It's going to be so creamy and delicious!
Serving Suggestions
I've got to say, getting the sauce just right is super rewarding, but how should you serve it all up? Well, immediately is key – don't let it sit! The pasta'll soak up all the sauce, and nobody wants dry pasta, right?
Garnish it! A sprinkle of the remaining parsley brings a pop of freshness—and that grated Parmesan? Yes, please! It's like giving your pasta a little cheesy hug.
Want to get fancy? Add a lemon wedge – a tiny squeeze cuts through the richness.
Serve it hot, serve it proud, and watch it disappear. Because let me tell you, creamy garlic prawn pasta? It is pure magic, and I hope you think so too. Enjoy!
Short Recipe Version
Creamy Garlic Prawn Pasta
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 15 minutes
Servings: 4
Ingredients:
8 oz pasta
1 lb prawns, peeled and deveined
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp butter
1 lemon
Salt and pepper to taste
Fresh parsley (optional)
Instructions:
- Cook pasta according to package directions.
- While pasta cooks, heat olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Add garlic and cook until fragrant (about 1 minute).
- Add prawns and cook until pink and opaque (about 3-5 minutes).
- Stir in heavy cream and Parmesan cheese. Simmer until sauce thickens slightly.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Drain pasta and add it to the skillet with the sauce. Toss to coat.
- Squeeze lemon juice over pasta and garnish with fresh parsley (optional).
- Serve immediately.
Nutrition Information (per serving, estimated):
Calories: 550
Protein: 35g
Fat: 30g
Carbohydrates: 40g