Shrimp and Spaghetti

I made this recipe out of ingredients from the pantry and mostly on hand. My father-in-law had purchased the shrimp and Bruce purchased the cheese and mushrooms for me.

Serves 4

Ingredients

• 8 oz thin spaghetti
• Water to cook spaghetti
• 1 lb headless uncooked shrimp, peeled
• 1 tablespoon dried basil (fresh would be better and maybe 1 1/2 to 2 tablespoons)
• 1/2 cup boiling water
• 1 lemon, peel grated and the lemon juiced
• 1 medium sized tomato, diced
• 4 to 6 oz of mushrooms, sliced
• 3 large garlic cloves, thinly sliced
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• Salt to taste
• Ground black pepper to taste or red pepper flakes to taste

Tools:

Large skillet, large pot, grater, cutting board, knife, small heat proof bowl or a coffee mug, colander

Instructions

1. Prep all the ingredients. Peel the shrimp, slice the garlic, dice the tomatoes, slice the mushrooms, grate the lemon peel, cut the lemon in half and juice it.
2. Put the dried basil in the small heat proof bowl and pour the 1/2 cup of boiling water over it.
3. Fill the large pot with water and salt it. It should taste salty. Bring the water to a boil over high heat. While waiting for the water to boil, do the next steps.
4. Add the oil to the large skillet and add the butter. Heat over medium heat until the butter has melted.
5. Sauté the sliced garlic in the oil and butter for about 30 seconds.
6. Add the sliced mushrooms and tomatoes to the oil and butter. Sauté until the tomato has started to break down.
7. Add the water and basil to the mushrooms and tomato. Stir.
8. Add the shrimp and stir. Cook the shrimp until pink. About 5 minutes.
9. Add the grated lemon peel and lemon juice.
10. Add salt and pepper to taste. Remove from heat.
11. Once the large pot of water comes to a roiling boil, add the spaghetti to the pot. Cook until it has just a little bit of firmness left.
12. Save about a cup of pasta water and drain the pasta.
13. Put the pasta back into the large pot and toss in the shrimp mixture.
14. Toss until the spaghetti is coated.
15. Add the cup of grated Parmesan cheese and some of the hot pasta water to the spaghetti. Toss to melt the cheese and then serve.

Notes: