Easy Shrimp Zucchini Bowties Delight
A light and flavorful Italian-inspired dish featuring succulent shrimp, fresh zucchini, and tender bowtie pasta simmered in a delicate tomato sauce. Perfect for a quick, healthy weeknight dinner.
Prep
: 10
Total
: 25 minutes
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 lb shrimp shelled and deveined (about 12 oz peeled weight)
- 8 oz bowtie pasta
- 3 cloves garlic thinly sliced
- 2 medium shallots diced
- 1 medium zucchini julienned or cubed
- 2 medium tomatoes diced
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 0.5 cup fat-free chicken broth
- 1 tbsp fresh parsley finely chopped
- cooking spray
- 0.5 tsp crushed red pepper flakes optional
- salt and fresh pepper
Instructions
Preparation Steps
- Cook bowtie pasta according to package instructions until al dente, then drain and set aside.
- Heat a large skillet over high heat and spray lightly with cooking spray.
- Season shrimp with salt and pepper and add to the hot skillet.
- Sauté shrimp for about 1 minute until just cooked through, then remove from heat and set aside.
- Add olive oil to the pan, reduce heat to medium, add shallots and garlic, sauté until golden, about 1 minute.
- Add diced tomatoes, season with salt and pepper, and cook for 1 minute.
- Add zucchini and sauté another minute.
- Pour in chicken broth and add crushed red pepper flakes, stirring to combine well.
- Return shrimp to the pan and simmer for 30 seconds to blend flavors.
- Add drained pasta to the sauce, mix thoroughly, and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed.
- Sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley and serve immediately. Optionally, top with grated cheese.
Notes
This dish yields about 4 servings and is perfect for a light, nutritious meal. Adjust the red pepper flakes to taste for a bit of heat. Enjoy with a side salad or some crusty bread.