Shrimp, Squash and Zucchini Pasta

I promised in my last post that I would feature my Mom’s delicious squash and zucchini pasta and here it is! Sometimes she adds shrimp or chicken so this time I chose to do it with shrimp. I am in Louisiana, after all. I made this dish with vegetables that I grew in my garden so it tasted even better than normal. Really! There is nothing better than organically-grown fruits and veggies that you grew yourself! I get a sense of satisfaction out of it but maybe that’s just me.

This dish is really simple. It’s only a few ingredients – garlic, onion, squash, zucchini, shrimp, olive oil, and pasta – and it only requires a few steps. So it’s very easy and anyone can make it!

Sautee the vegetables first and then do the shrimp separately. The vegetables take much longer to cook and you don’t want to overcook shrimp or it will get touch and chewy. Throw all if it over the pasta, add parmesan and parsley and you’ve got a healthy summer dinner.

Recipe

• 2 tbsp Olive Oil
• 1 tbsp Butter
• 1/2 a Medium Onion, diced
• 1 Zucchini, chopped horizontally
• 1 Yellow Squash, chopped horizontally
• 2 Garlic Cloves, minced
• 10-15 Shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 1/2 Lb Angel Hair Pasta
• 1/4 cup shredded Parmesan Cheese
• 2 tbsp Parsley

Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and add the pasta.

While pasta is cooking, add olive oil to a pan on medium heat and add onion, squash and zucchini. Add salt and pepper to taste. Sautee for 5-7 minutes or until the vegetables start to soften, stirring occasionally. Set the vegetables aside in a bowl.

Season the shrimp with salt and pepper. In the same pan you used for the vegetables, add butter on medium heat and let it melt. Add the garlic and cook for about a minute then add the shrimp. Make sure the shrimp are not crowded in the pan. You will probably have to cook 2 batches depending on how much shrimp you have. Cook the shrimp until they turn pink on each side and add to the vegetable bowl.

Once pasta is ready, drain but do not rinse. Throw the pasta in a bowl and pour the vegetables and shrimp on top and toss all of it together. Add parmesan cheese and parsley.

Enjoy!