Delicious Shrimp Carbonara Recipe: A Quick, Creamy, and Easy Italian Pasta Dish
Experience a delightful twist on a classic Italian favorite with this creamy shrimp carbonara recipe. Swapping traditional ham or pancetta for succulent gambas (large shrimp), this dish is super tasty, incredibly easy, and wonderfully quick to prepare. It’s truly an ideal recipe for every day, perfect for a busy weeknight or a relaxed weekend meal!
Shrimp, those seemingly humble gray, translucent creatures, undergo a magical transformation when introduced to heat. They blossom into beautifully marbled pink and orange jewels, bursting with a sweet, oceanic flavor that’s hard to resist. In today’s fast-paced world, convenience is key, which is why I often opt for peeled and deveined shrimp. This simple choice saves valuable prep time, making this carbonara a fantastic 30-minute meal option – especially when your pasta is already cooking away!
One of the hidden benefits of this dish is its universal appeal. The tender shrimp, bathed in a rich, salty, and creamy carbonara sauce, nestles perfectly within the strands of spaghetti. This delightful combination often encourages even the most discerning eaters – like children who might typically shy away from seafood – to enjoy every bite. The harmonious blend of spicy shrimp, savory Parmesan, and the luxurious egg-based sauce creates an unforgettable culinary experience that truly is worth trying. You’ll find a video instruction embedded within the recipe card below to guide you every step of the way!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe & Essential Tips
This Shrimp Carbonara isn’t just another pasta dish; it’s a culinary hack for delicious, fast, and satisfying meals. Here are a few reasons why it stands out and some crucial tips to ensure your success:
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It’s a Quick Recipe, So Master Your Mise-en-Place
Because speed is of the essence with this recipe, having all your ingredients prepped and ready to go is paramount. “Mise-en-place” is a French culinary term meaning “everything in its place.” This translates to having your garlic minced, pepper chopped, cheese grated, and eggs whisked before you even turn on the stove. This organized approach ensures a smooth cooking process, preventing frantic searches for ingredients and allowing you to focus on the cooking technique, especially when it comes to the delicate carbonara sauce.
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Achieve Perfect Pasta: Cook in Water as Salty as the Sea
Italian chefs always emphasize that pasta water should be “as salty as the sea.” This isn’t just a poetic saying; it’s crucial for flavor. Adding at least one tablespoon of salt to your boiling water ensures the spaghetti itself is seasoned from the inside out, rather than relying solely on the sauce for flavor. Remember, the pasta absorbs some of this saltiness, which dramatically enhances the overall taste of your carbonara. Don’t skip this step for truly authentic results!
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Important Note on Raw Eggs and Food Safety
This classic carbonara recipe uses raw eggs and egg yolks which are cooked by the residual heat of the hot pasta, creating that signature creamy sauce. However, they do not fully “cook” through to a solid state. Therefore, this recipe is not recommended for pregnant women, young children, individuals with compromised immune systems, or the elderly, due to the risk associated with consuming undercooked eggs. Always use the freshest eggs possible if you fall outside these categories.
Ingredient Substitutions & Variations
One of the beauties of cooking is the flexibility to adapt recipes to your preferences or what you have on hand. Here are some smart substitutions for this shrimp carbonara:
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Pasta Choice: Spaghetti vs. Tagliatelle
While spaghetti is the traditional choice for carbonara, you can absolutely substitute it with tagliatelle. Tagliatelle, with its wider, flatter ribbons, provides a different texture that can be equally delicious, allowing the creamy sauce to cling beautifully to each strand. Feel free to experiment with other long pasta shapes like fettuccine or linguine if you prefer.
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Cheese Matters: Parmesan vs. Parmigiano Reggiano
The recipe calls for Parmesan cheese, which is widely available and provides a great salty, umami flavor. However, if you’re looking for an even more authentic and superior taste, Parmigiano Reggiano is the ultimate substitute. It’s often considered the “king of cheeses” for its complex, nutty, and fruity notes. Grating it fresh yourself will always yield the best results, as pre-grated cheeses can be drier and less flavorful.
Serving Suggestions: What Pairs Well with Shrimp Carbonara
While Shrimp Carbonara is a complete meal in itself, pairing it with a simple side dish can elevate the experience and add a refreshing contrast to its richness.
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A Fresh Arugula Salad is Perfect
It’s absolutely delicious with a fresh green salad. Specifically, a vibrant salad containing peppery arugula, sweet sun-dried tomatoes, and crunchy pine nuts makes for an exquisite accompaniment. The peppery bite of arugula cuts through the richness of the carbonara, the sun-dried tomatoes add a touch of sweetness and acidity, and pine nuts provide a pleasant texture. A light vinaigrette dressing would be ideal, letting the natural flavors shine.
Storage & Reheating Guidelines
Proper storage is important for any dish, but especially for those containing fresh ingredients. Given the nature of carbonara, there are specific considerations:
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Immediate Consumption is Best Due to Raw Eggs
Because this recipe utilizes raw eggs that are gently cooked by the heat of the pasta but not fully solidified, it’s highly recommended to eat it immediately upon preparation. Storing leftovers is generally advised against due to food safety concerns related to the eggs. If you must store it, do so promptly in an airtight container in the refrigerator and consume within 24 hours, reheating thoroughly to a safe temperature. However, for the best taste, texture, and safety, enjoy this creamy carbonara fresh off the stove!
More Delicious Pasta Recipes
If you loved this Shrimp Carbonara, you might enjoy exploring other fantastic pasta creations. Here are some related recipes that are just as easy and flavorful:
- 15-Minute Shrimp & Arugula Spaghetti
- Classic Spaghetti Carbonara without Cream
- Spaghetti with Leek and Mascarpone
- Broccoli and bacon pasta {easy recipe}
Have you whipped up this amazing Spaghetti Carbonara with Shrimp? I’d absolutely love to see your delicious creations! Please tag #byandreajanssen on Instagram or Twitter. Sharing your culinary adventures with me truly makes my day. You can also share your recipe photos and comments on my Facebook channel, or simply pin this recipe on Pinterest so you can easily find it for your next meal prep. Happy cooking, and I look forward to connecting with you soon!
📖 Recipe Card
VIDEO
RECIPE CARD
Andréa
Pin Recipe
Ingredients
- 500 grams spaghetti , or tagliatelle
- 400 grams shrimp
- 2 eggs
- 2 egg yolks
- 60 grams Parmesan cheese , grated
- 2 tablespoons oil
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 ground black pepper
- 2 cloves garlic
All my recipes are written both in Metric (gram / ml) and US Customary (cups / pounds). Here you can select which type of amount you would like to see.
Instructions
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Finely chop the fresh ground black pepper (if using whole peppercorns) and press the garlic cloves flat, then mince.
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In a medium bowl, combine the whole eggs, egg yolks, and grated Parmesan cheese. Whisk vigorously until well combined and slightly frothy. Set aside.
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Place a large pot of water on the stove over high heat and bring it to a rolling boil.
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In a large frying pan or skillet, pour in the oil and add the butter.
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Heat the pan over medium heat until the butter is fully melted and begins to lightly shimmer.
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Add the chopped pepper and minced garlic to the skillet. Sauté for about 1 minute, stirring constantly, allowing the butter/oil mixture to absorb their aromatic flavors without burning the garlic.
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Add the prepared shrimp to the skillet with the fragrant garlic and pepper.
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Once the water is boiling, add a generous tablespoon of salt and then carefully add the spaghetti. Cook according to package directions until al dente.
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Stir-fry the shrimp for approximately 2-3 minutes, or until they turn a beautiful opaque pink. Be careful not to overcook them, as they can become tough. Once cooked, immediately turn off the heat under the skillet.
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Once the spaghetti is al dente, drain it thoroughly, reserving about half a cup of the starchy pasta water. Transfer the drained spaghetti to a large mixing bowl.
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Using tongs, remove the cooked shrimp from the skillet and add them directly to the bowl with the hot spaghetti.
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Quickly strain any remaining butter/oil/garlic liquid from the skillet and pour it over the spaghetti and shrimp. This liquid is packed with flavor.
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Immediately add the Parmesan cheese and egg mixture to the hot spaghetti and shrimp. Toss everything very quickly and continuously, ensuring the eggs don’t scramble but rather emulsify with the cheese, pasta water (if needed), and pasta’s starch to form a smooth, creamy sauce. If the sauce seems too thick, add a tablespoon or two of the reserved pasta water until desired consistency is reached.
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Serve your creamy shrimp carbonara immediately, perhaps with a little extra grated Parmesan and a sprinkle of fresh parsley or black pepper. Enjoy!
Nutrition
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