We’ve had this frozen bag of shrimp in the freezer since the last cat’s birthday (we spoil them clearly). I knew it was reaching its expiration date soon so I figured why not throw ’em in some pasta and make a dish out of it. The cats are spoiled enough – time to let the humans eat good for once!
“Fishiness” is a good thing in this dish. It’s already so simplistic that you really need to amp up just one flavor profile, which in this case is the seafood from the shrimp and anchovies. Go hard with the anchovies and garlic if you can; trust me. Also to note: don’t expect anyone to want to kiss you after eating a bowl of this.
The usual suspects are involved – sauteed onions, cloves of garlic, and a few pieces of spiney jarred fish (anchovies, if you’re slow). Keep on cooking them down until they’re fully dissolved.
This melted mixture of pungency will waft throughout your kitchen so just be prepared. It’s a smell you either love or hate, which I definitely love.
Add the (hopefully defrosted by now) shrimp to the pot. I’m the laziest person in the world so threw them in fully frozen. Really not the end of the world, but likely to make it a little more rubbery in the end.
Once the separate pot of pasta has cooked the spaghetti, throw it in the seafood sauce and toss around. Chopped herbs and a squeeze of lemon help bring freshness to the dish.
Not bad for a quick dish with some pantry ingredients and old, frozen shrimp.
No amount of mouthwash or breath mints will help you recover from this for at least 6 hours from consumption. So plan your night accordingly.
—ingredients—
- 12-15 regular sized frozen (or fresh shrimp) – 31-40 size
- 1 whole onion, chopped small
- 3-6 cloves garlic, chopped small (depending how pungent you want it)
- 5 or so anchovy fillets plus some liquid from the jar
- 1 lb whole wheat spaghetti (or regular)
- Handful of cilantro/parsley
- Squeeze of a whole lemon
- Salt and pepper to taste
—directions—
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook the spaghetti (whole wheat or regular) according to instructions. Set strained spaghetti to the side.
- On medium heat, pour some vegetable oil in a large pot to bring to temperature. Add the chopped onion and cook for 5 minutes or so, continuously stirring. Add the chopped garlic and the anchovies and continue to stir until the fillets melt into the onions (it should be around an additional 5 minutes).
- If using frozen shrimp, add them to the pot and let them sit for a few minutes until you see a slightly pink starting to form. Flip and turn around. If using fresh shrimp, follow the same but it will take much less time.
- Add the cooked pasta with the fresh herbs and squeezed lemon and mix together. Season to taste with salt, pepper, and anything else.
taleitalei 