Orecchiette with asparagus and shrimp, a very simple and tasty first course, perfect for an everyday spring lunch or special occasions. To prepare this recipe, I didn’t use the pressure cooker, because it’s not suitable for fresh pasta. You would end up with overcooked and inedible pasta. However, I cooked the sauce in the pressure cooker, a quick cooking method that allows you to retain the nutritional properties of the ingredients. For the sauce, I used asparagus and shrimp tails, to which I added a few cherry tomatoes to make it even tastier. As an alternative, you can still cook the sauce in a regular non-stick pan, but you will need to extend the cooking time. If you’re curious to try this recipe, then let’s go to the kitchen together, because the orecchiette with asparagus and shrimp will be ready in a click!
If you’re interested in other first courses in the pressure cooker, also read:
- Difficulty: Very easy
- Cost: Economical
- Preparation time: 20 Minutes
- Portions: 3People
- Cooking methods: Stovetop, Pressure Cooker
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: Spring
- Energy 418.24 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 68.40 (g) of which sugars 11.65 (g)
- Proteins 19.96 (g)
- Fat 7.86 (g) of which saturated 1.11 (g)of which unsaturated 0.80 (g)
- Fibers 3.58 (g)
- Sodium 1,111.21 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 91 g processed in an automated way starting from the nutritional information available on the CREA* and FoodData Central** databases. It is not food and / or nutritional advice.
* CREATES Food and Nutrition Research Center: https://www.crea.gov.it/alimenti-e-nutrizione https://www.alimentinutrizione.it ** U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov
Ingredients
- 2 cups orecchiette
- 13 oz asparagus
- 8 oz shrimp tails
- 1.5 cups cherry tomatoes
- 1 clove garlic
- 1.5 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 3.5 tbsp dry white wine
- fresh chili pepper (to taste)
- salt (to taste)
- chives (to taste)
Tools
- Pressure Cooker
- High-sided Casserole
- Cutting Board
- Knife
Steps
First, take care of cleaning the fish and vegetables. Start with the fish. Cut the back of the shellfish and remove the black vein using a toothpick. Then also remove the shell and legs, rinse and drain them.
Now proceed with cleaning the asparagus. Remove the toughest part and wash them under water. Drain and then cut them into rings. Peel a clove of garlic and brown it in the open pot with oil and chili pepper. I used fresh chili, but dried chili will also work fine. Add the cleaned and shelled shrimp and sauté them over high heat for a few moments. Deglaze with white wine and let the alcohol evaporate.
Then add the halved cherry tomatoes and asparagus. Season with salt and close the pot. Bring it to full pressure and from the beginning of the whistle, cook for 2 minutes. In the meantime, cook the pasta al dente in plenty of salted water, according to the cooking times indicated on the package.
After the cooking time for the sauce has elapsed, gradually release the steam and open the pot. If necessary, let the sauce dry for a few moments over high heat. It all depends on how much water the vegetables and fish have released during cooking.
Then drain the orecchiette, transfer them into the pot with the sauce and sauté them for a few moments in the open pot, stirring.
The pasta with asparagus, shrimp, and cherry tomatoes in the pressure cooker is ready! Add some chives and serve at the table.
Storage and Tips for Orecchiette with Asparagus and Shrimp
The pasta with asparagus and shrimp can be stored in the refrigerator for 1 or 2 days in a container with a lid.
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FAQ Questions and Answers for Orecchiette with Asparagus and Shrimp
Can the pasta be cooked in the pressure cooker along with the sauce?
Since it’s fresh pasta, it’s better not to because it would break. I tested it by cooking a small portion before making the recipe. The orecchiette were mushy and overcooked. Fresh pasta is very delicate, so it’s better to cook it separately in a casserole. Alternatively, you can replace the orecchiette with durum wheat pasta, but you will also need to calculate the amount of water to add.
What can I replace shrimp tails with?
As an alternative to shrimp tails, you can use scampi or other shellfish of your choice.
