The sunny shores of Jamaica are flipping the script and making a vacation stop to your kitchen rather than the other way around! We can’t say we mind, not when we have a big bowl of Rasta Pasta in front of us! With sweet and savory shrimp marinated in zesty jerk seasonings and a creamy, spicy sauce loaded with bell peppers, Rasta Pasta knows how to make the faraway island feel just a little closer to home. Not bad for a meal you can make in less than half an hour!
Ingredients
For the pasta and shrimp:
- 8 ounces pasta, such as spaghetti
- 1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 1 tablespoon jerk seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Old Bay® seasoning
For the sauce:
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 green bell pepper, sliced
- 1 yellow bell pepper, sliced
- 1 red bell pepper, sliced
- 4 green onions, sliced, green and white parts separated
- 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon jerk seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 cup parmesan cheese, shredded
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
Directions
Step 1 –In a large pot of boiling, salted water, cook the pasta to al dente, according to the package directions. Drain the pasta.
Step 2 –In a large bowl, add the shrimp, 1/2 tablespoon of the olive oil, 1 tablespoon of the jerk seasoning, the garlic powder, the onion powder, and the Old Bay seasoning and toss until the shrimp is completely coated.
Step 3 –Allow the shrimp to sit undisturbed to marinate, about 5 minutes.
Step 4 –In a skillet over medium-high heat, heat the remaining olive oil.
Step 5 –Add the shrimp to the hot oil in a single layer and cook until the shrimp is pink and reaches an internal temperature of 145 degrees F, about 2 minutes per side.
Step 6 –Transfer the shrimp to a plate.
Step 7 –In the same pan over medium-high heat, melt the butter.
Step 8 –Add the paprika to the melted butter and cook, while stirring to combine, until fragrant, about 1 minute.
Step 9 –Add the green bell pepper, the yellow bell pepper, the red bell pepper, and the white parts of the green onions and cook until they just start to soften, about 2-3 minutes.
Step 10 –Add the garlic to the pepper mixture and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
Step 11 –Add the heavy cream, the remaining jerk seasoning, and the thyme and cook until the peppers are cooked to your desired level of tenderness, about 3-5 minutes.
Step 12 –Add the parmesan and the mozzarella and cook, while stirring, until they are melted into the sauce.
Step 13 –Add the pasta and the shrimp to the sauce and fold to coat.
Step 14 –Serve garnished with the green parts of the green onions.
