Crazy Cajun Pasta

Ingredients:

1 lb fresh (peeled and deveined w/o tail) or frozen shrimp (thawed)

1 box Penne or other small pasta (cooked)

2 cups whole milk

4 TBSP butter

2 TBSP flour

1TSPS olive oil

1-2 cloves garlic-minced

½ medium red or yellow onion-diced

1 cup shredded parmesan or jack cheese

1 tsp Cajun seasoning

¼ tsp cayenne pepper (or more if desired)

Kosher salt & fresh ground black pepper

Directions:

Sauce

1.  Melt 2 TBSP butter in a sauce pan on medium heat

2.  Add flour and stir to combine

3.  Heat 1-2 minutes to cook out the flour taste.  Do not let brown; you are making a ‘blonde roux’

4.  Slowly whisk in milk

5.  Stir in cheese

6.  Add Cajun seasoning and cayenne pepper

7.  Simmer on low until cheese is melted and sauce is thickened; stirring occasionally

Shrimp

1.  Melt 2 TBSP butter and olive oil on medium high to high heat in a heavy skillet

2.  Add onions and garlic

3.  Sauté until softened (about 2 minutes)

4.  Pat shrimp dry and season with salt and pepper

5.  Toss in with onions and garlic

6.  Cook until shrimp curls and turns a pinkish color-5 minutes

7.  Pour shrimp mixture into sauce

8.  Add to cooked pasta

9.  Stir to combine

10. Enjoy!

Recipe Notes: This idea came from a box!  A friend made a frozen meal similar to this, so I just made up my own version.  You can make it spicier of you like by adding more cayenne.  You can also substitute the shrimp with chicken or a spicy sausage; OR go crazy and add all three!  I think I will try THAT next time I make it. :-)

Posted by Buffie