38min prep: 14min cook: 24min
A creamy, delicious pasta makes a meal with the simple addition of quick-cooking shrimp.Notes:
- Swap asparagus for any vegetable like broccoli, peas, carrots or cauliflower or even a medley.
- I like using skewers for a special treat. They are also great if you want to throw these on the grill instead. However, you can skip the skewering step altogether, if you prefer, and just cook on the sheet pan under the broiler.
Ingredients
Produce
- Asparagus — 2 Cups
- Fresh Cilantro — 1⁄4 Cup
- Fresh Parsley — 2 Tablespoons
- Garlic — 1 Clove
Meat & Seafood
- Shrimp, 16-20, Peeled And Deveined — 1 1⁄4 Pounds
Cheese & Lunchmeat
- Goat Cheese — 4 Ounces
- Parmesan Cheese, Grated — 1 Cup
Dairy & Eggs
- Butter, Unsalted — 2 Tablespoons
- Heavy Cream — 2⁄3 Cup
Grains & Pasta
- Shell Pasta — 1⁄2 Pound
Spice & Baking
- Black Pepper
- Crushed Red Pepper — 1⁄4 Teaspoon
- Kosher Salt
Condiments, Oils & Dressings
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil — 4 Tablespoons
Equipment
Kitchen Supplies
- Aluminum Foil
- Skewers, Wooden — 12
Appliances
- Broiler
- Stove Top
Cooking Equipment
- Chef’s Knife
- Colander
- Cutting Board
- Measuring Cups
- Measuring Spoons
- Mixing Bowl, Medium
- Pot, Large (4-6 QT)
- Sheet Pan
Prep Steps
- [ Goat Cheese Pasta Alfredo with Asparagus ] Snap or cut the bottom end off each asparagus spear, then cut into 1/2 inch pieces to measure the indicated amount.
- [ Herb Shrimp Skewers ] If you are using wooden skewers, place them in a large, shallow bowl of cold water. Soak for at least 30 minutes to help prevent burning.
- [ Herb Shrimp Skewers ] Trim parsley leaves from the stems and finely chop to measure the indicated amount. Place in a medium mixing bowl.
- [ Herb Shrimp Skewers ] Pick cilantro leaves off the stems and finely chop to measure the indicated amount. Add to the parsley.
- [ Herb Shrimp Skewers ] Smash the garlic under the side of your chef’s knife to remove the peel. Mince the garlic, then add to the parsley and cilantro.
- [ Herb Shrimp Skewers ] Add olive oil and crushed red pepper to the herbs and garlic. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Stir to combine.
Cook Steps
- [ Goat Cheese Pasta Alfredo with Asparagus ] Fill a large pot 2/3 high with water and cover. Place over high heat. Proceed with next step as water comes to a boil.
- [ Herb Shrimp Skewers ] Preheat the broiler (or grill) on high.
- [ Herb Shrimp Skewers ] Lightly grease a sheet pan with olive oil.
- [ Herb Shrimp Skewers ] Dry the shrimp thoroughly and season with salt and pepper. Place in the bowl with the herb mixture and toss to coat evenly.
- [ Herb Shrimp Skewers ] Thread the skewers through the shrimp, facing all the tails in the same direction. Put 2-3 shrimp on each skewer. Push them close together, then set on the prepared sheet pan.
- [ Herb Shrimp Skewers ] If you are cooking on an outdoor grill, wrap small pieces of aluminum foil around the handle ends of the skewers. This will also prevent them from burning.
- [ Goat Cheese Pasta Alfredo with Asparagus ] Once water is boiling, add 1 tablespoon of salt and stir in the pasta. Cook until tender but with a slight bite, about 8 minutes, or according to the package instructions. Add asparagus to the pot after [5 minutes] or when there are just 3 minutes left to cook.
- [ Herb Shrimp Skewers ] Place the shrimp under the broiler. Be mindful of the heat source for your broiler and line up the skewers so the shrimp are under the heat source.
- [ Herb Shrimp Skewers ] Broil the shrimp for [2-3 minutes] until they are bright pink on top. Flip and cook until pink all over, another 2-3 minutes.
- [ Goat Cheese Pasta Alfredo with Asparagus ] Set pasta pot back over medium heat. Add butter. Once melted, add heavy cream, Parmesan cheese and goat cheese. Cook until cheese is melted and sauce is smooth and well combined. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- [ Goat Cheese Pasta Alfredo with Asparagus ] Add pasta and asparagus to the cheese sauce. Stir to combine well, season with salt and pepper to taste, then remove from heat.
- [ Herb Shrimp Skewers ] Transfer the herb shrimp skewers to a serving platter or to dinner plates and serve warm!
- [ Goat Cheese Pasta Alfredo with Asparagus ] Transfer goat cheese pasta Alfredo with asparagus to dinner plates. Serve warm!