RECIPE - Creamy Bacon & Shrimp Cajun Pasta

Hi folks! Lately, I've been craving Jambalaya flavours, specifically the spicy, smoky & savoury elements of cajun seasoning. So, I rummaged through my pantry, fridge and freezer to see what I can come up with to satisfy my cravings for the flavours of Louisiana. Luckily, I had all the spices to make cajun seasoning, and I have bacon & shrimp! Yaaaass. Lo and behold, Creamy Bacon & Shrimp Cajun Pasta!

I made my own cajun seasoning using spices I have in my pantry, and kicked up the smoky flavour profile by cooking bacon until it gets crunchy. The velvety sauce was creamy, savoury, smoky and spicy all in one mouthful! This went well with the cooked to perfection texture of the pasta. I garnished with with some grape tomatoes and green onions to give it a hint of freshness and to up the savory flavour profiles.

Check out my Instagram account & head to the Reels section to watch how I made this dish!

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Happy Cooking and Eating! 😁🙌🏻

HOW TO MAKE

INGREDIENTS

250g spaghetti
300g shrimp
200g bacon
6 garlic cloves
1/4 cup green onions
3 tbsp cajun seasoning
1.5 cups half & half creamer
2 cups chicken stock
1 cup pasta water
juice of 1/2 lemon
1 cup grape/cherry tomatoes

PROCEDURE

MAKE CAJUN SEASONING

In a small bowl combine 1 tbsp smoked paprika, 1 tbsp garlic powder, 1/2 tbsp onion powder, 1/2 tbsp salt, 1 tsp dried oregano, 1 tsp ground black pepper, 1 tsp cayenne pepper. Set aside and use per above.

MARINATE SHRIMP

In a small bowl, combine shrimp, a pinch of salt & ground black pepper & 1/4 to 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes, according to your preference. Set aside & marinate for at least 15 minutes.

1. Cook pasta according to package instructions.

2. In medium heat, sauté shrimp in a couple tbsps of cooking oil until it turns pinkish and remove from pan. Set aside.

3. Remove excess liquid from pan and sauté bacon under fat is rendered, and bacon is deep bCheckrown and crispy, around 5-6 minutes. Remove excess fat.

4. Add garlic and green onions & saute for another 2-3 minutes.

5. Add a handful of tomatoes & the cajun seasoning. Mix until seasoning is incorporated. Add chicken stock & burst tomatoes at this point. Let the sauce simmer for 1-2 minutes.

6. Add creamer, incorporating it into the sauce and let it boil then simmer for 5-6 minutes. While simmering, mix sauce until it thickens.

7. Add cooked pasta & shrimp into the pan and mix to incorporate sauce. Add pasta water if the sauce gets too thick or if the pasta absorbs the sauce too quickly. Lastly, add more green onions and tomatoes for garnish. Squeeze lemon and mix before serving.

8. Enjoy!