Imagine twirling your fork into a creamy, luxurious pasta dish that looks like it came straight from a gourmet Italian restaurant - but you made it in your own kitchen! This Shrimp Asparagus Goat Cheese Pasta is your ticket to an elegant meal that's surprisingly simple to prepare. Packed with succulent shrimp, tender-crisp asparagus, and tangy goat cheese, this recipe transforms ordinary ingredients into an extraordinary dining experience that will have your family and friends begging for seconds.
Prep Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 20 mins
Total Time: 35 mins
Cuisine: Italian
Serves: 4 servings
Ingredients
- 8 oz pasta
- 1 lb shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1 bunch asparagus, trimmed and cut into pieces
- 4 oz goat cheese, crumbled
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Fill a large pot with water and add a generous pinch of salt. Bring to a rolling boil over high heat.
- Add pasta to the boiling water and cook according to package instructions until al dente, typically 8-10 minutes. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water before draining.
- While pasta is cooking, prepare the asparagus by washing and trimming the woody ends. Cut into 1-inch diagonal pieces.
- Pat shrimp dry with paper towels and season with salt and pepper.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Add shrimp to the skillet and cook for 2-3 minutes per side until pink and just cooked through. Remove shrimp and set aside.
- In the same skillet, add asparagus pieces and sauté for 3-4 minutes until bright green and tender-crisp.
- Return shrimp to the skillet and add drained pasta. Toss gently to combine.
- Crumble goat cheese over the pasta and gently fold, allowing the cheese to slightly melt. If mixture seems dry, add reserved pasta water a little at a time.
- Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper as needed.
- Serve immediately in warm pasta bowls, garnishing with additional cracked black pepper or fresh herbs if desired.
Tips
- • Always reserve some pasta water before draining - its starchy magic helps create a silky sauce and helps goat cheese melt smoothly • Pat shrimp dry before cooking to ensure a beautiful golden sear and prevent steaming • Cut asparagus on a diagonal for more elegant presentation and even cooking • Use medium-high heat when sautéing to get a nice color on shrimp and asparagus without overcooking • Add goat cheese off the heat to prevent it from becoming grainy • For extra flavor, consider adding red pepper flakes or fresh herbs like basil or parsley as a final garnish
Nutrition Facts
Calories: 511kcal
Carbohydrates: 47g
Protein: 39g
Fat: 18g
Saturated Fat: g
Cholesterol: 140mg
