Shellfish Dinner for One!

By Lori Powell

I often eat dinner alone and I will make it super-special with the foods that I love to devour, such as spicy shellfish made into comfort food (à la vodka sauce), and with a dash of health (whole grain pasta so you can eliminate the guilt factor)!

Also when cooking for one, shrimp is an easy pick since you can buy the little crustaceans by the piece and cook them up super quick…the crab is the extra embellishment that you can either go for or not.

When in Maine I add the leftover cooked lobster from my lobster boil the night before.

Enjoy and do not forget to savor this recipe with a nice glass of wine. Delizioso!

Shrimp and Crab à la Vodka
Prep: 15 minutes  Cook: 7 minutes
Serves 1

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
5 large shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 clove garlic, minced
2 tablespoons vodka
½ cup jarred good quality marinara sauce
¼ cup picked through jumbo lump crabmeat (optional)
1 tablespoon heavy cream
1 ½ cups cooked (about 1 cup unccooked) whole grain penne pasta
2 tablespoons finely grated fresh Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves or basil
Freshly ground black pepper to taste

Heat olive oil in a medium heavy skillet, over moderately high heat; add shrimp, stirring, until cooked through, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a plate. Add garlic to pan and cook over moderate heat, stirring, 1 minute, being careful not to burn. Remove pan from heat and add vodka.

Return skillet to heat and stir in marinara sauce, crabmeat and cream and bring to a simmer. Add pasta with half of the Parmesan, parsley and shrimp and toss to coat.

Transfer to a serving bowl and sprinkle with remaining Parmesan and pepper to taste.

TIPS: Add other fresh herbs such as chives or tarragon.

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