Shelly's Recipe

SOUTHWEST SHRIMP AND PASTA

Category: Pasta - Seafood

1 lb Roma tomatoes
6 oil-packed dried tomatoes, drained
1 or 2 fresh jalapeño chilies, stemmed, seeded, and sliced
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
1 tsp olive oil
3 tbsp minced shallot
4 to 6 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup dry sherry or water
1/2 lb dried bow-tie pasta
1 lb (22 to 24 per lb) fresh or thawed frozen shelled and deveined shrimp
2 tbsp chopped parsley
Salt and pepper

Core Roma tomatoes and coarsely chop. Put 2/3 of the chopped tomatoes into a food processor or blender. Add dried tomatoes, chilies, and basil; whirl until coarsely puréed.

In a 10- to 12-inch frying pan over medium-high heat, stir oil, shallot, and garlic until shallot are limp, about 2 minutes. Add remaining chopped tomatoes, puréed tomato mixture, and sherry. Simmer sauce over low heat, stirring occasionally, to blend flavors, 15 to 20 minutes. Add a little water if mixture begins to stick.

Meanwhile, cook pasta in about 3 quarts boiling water until barely tender to bite, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain and put in a wide serving bowl.

While pasta cooks, add shrimp to tomato sauce and stir often until shrimp are opaque but moist-looking in the center (cut to test), 3 to 5 minutes.

Mix sauce with pasta; sprinkle with parsley. Add salt and pepper to taste.