Basil Shrimp and Italian Sausage Pasta

I actually cook my pasta dishes like I make chow mein – stir frying. In my mind, the technique to make pasta or chow mein is the same, the only differences being the ingredients and the use of a tomato based sauce (usually a bottled pasta sauce). For this dish, shrimp is paired with Italian sausage, since pork and shrimp make a great taste combination. To add more flavor, fresh basil leaves are added at the end of cooking. Top with grated Parmesan cheese if desired. Serve with Garlic Garlic Bread (the recipe can be found here).

Enjoy!

Ingredients

1 lb.	500 g.	Thin Spaghetti
1 lb.	500 g.	Shrimp
1 lb.	500 g.	Italian sausage, casings removed
1	1	Medium onion, diced into ½-inch (15 mm.) pieces
1 lb.	500 g.	Button mushrooms, sliced into ¼-inch (7.5 mm.) pieces
½ cup	125 ml.	Fresh basil leaves
16 oz.	450 g.	Pasta sauce
½  cup	125 ml.	Pasta cooking water
2 Tbs.	30 ml.	White wine (optional)
		Extra virgin olive oil
		Grated parmesan cheese (optional)

 

Equipment

8 qt.	7.5 L.	Pot to boil the pasta
14 in.	35.5 cm.	Wok or pan

 

Preparation Instructions

1. Thaw the shrimp in the refrigerator overnight if using frozen shrimp. Take the shrimp out of the refrigerator at least one hour before cooking. Wash, shell, and devein the shrimp, and set aside.
2. Remove the casings from the Italian sausage and set aside.
3. Dice the onion into ½-inch (15 mm.) pieces and set aside.
4. Wash and slice the button mushrooms into ¼-inch (7.5 mm) pieces and set aside.
5. Wash and remove the basil leaves from the stalk, and set aside.

Cooking Instructions

1. Boil water in a pot over high heat before adding the thin spaghetti. Follow the cooking instructions for the pasta and cook until al dente. When cooking is complete, reserve ½-cup (125 ml.) of the pasta water for later use. Drain the pasta and set aside.
2. Heat a wok or pan over medium-low to medium heat and before adding the olive oil. Add the shrimp to the wok in a single layer on the bottom. Once the shrimp just turns pink, flip the shrimp over and cook the other side until it just turns pink. The shrimp will look slightly undercooked and will remain tender when cooked later with all the other ingredients. Set the shrimp aside in a bowl.
3. Reheat the wok over high heat before adding olive oil and then Italian sausage. Brown the Italian sausage, breaking up any large clumps, before removing the sausage to the bowl containing the shrimp.
4. Reheat the wok over high heat before adding olive oil and then the onion pieces. Once the onions become translucent, remove them to the bowl containing the shrimp.
5. Reheat the wok over high heat before adding olive oil and then mushroom pieces. Brown the mushroom pieces and then remove them to the bowl containing the shrimp.
6. Reheat the wok over high heat before adding olive oil and then the thin spaghetti. Stir fry the spaghetti to coat with olive oil before adding the contents of the bowl with the shrimp. Stir fry all the ingredients together before adding the basil leaves, reserved pasta water, white wine (optional), and then the pasta sauce. The amount of pasta sauce can be increased if more sauce is desired. Mix all the ingredients together.
7. Put the pasta into a serving dish and optionally top with grated Parmesan cheese. Serve with Garlic Garlic Bread (the recipe can be found here).