Wednesday 4 May 2022

TAGLIARINI WITH RAW COURGETTE, BROWN SHRIMP, CHILLI & LEMON


Fresh, super simple to make but very impressive looking and tasting when plated up - this pasta dish is perfect for showcasing fresh, high quality ingredients to their fullest and for me is basically spring on a plate!! 

Brown shrimp aren't that easy to find but definitely worth a trip to a market or fishmonger! 

Normal spaghetti will also work fine but I love the even thiner and finer tagliarini which I got from an Italian deli near me.

It's the sort of dish that is already a joy to shop for, a little more effort involved than a quick trip to your Sainsbury's local but all the more worth it when you have a Saturday or Sunday to yourself and can have a little potter around your favourite foodie produce spots.

Serves 2

INGREDIENTS

  • 400g of tagliarini, or use spaghetti or linguine (fresh or dried)
  • 8 tbsp of courgettes, coarsley grated
  • 1/2 tsp flaky sea salt
  • 80g of unsalted butter, cubed
  • 1/4 lemon, juiced
  • 1/4 tsp chilli flakes
  • 6 tbsp of brown shrimp, cooked and peeled

METHOD
  • Place the grated courgette in a colander and add ½ teaspoon fine salt. 
  • Place a bowl under the colander and leave for 1 hour. 
  • Squeeze out the courgette to extract as much liquid as possible
  • Put a large pan of water on to boil. 
  • Once the water is boiling, add enough salt to resemble mild sea water. 
  • Add the tagliarini and cook for 2 minutes (if using dried pasta cook until al dente)
  • At the same time, in a saucepan big enough to hold the pasta, heat together the butter, a splash of the pasta cooking water, lemon juice and chilli over a low to medium heat. 
  • When the pasta is cooked, remove it from the water and add it to the pan of butter and lemon to toss. 
  • Keep the pasta cooking water
  • Add the raw courgette and brown shrimp and vigorously toss the pasta in the pan for at least 30 seconds to work the gluten, adding a splash of starchy cooking water if it starts to dry up. 
  • Continue tossing the pasta until the sauce emulsifies and becomes viscous, and season with salt. 
  • Serve immediately.

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