Creamy Cajun-inspired pasta combining shrimp, crab, sausage, and vegetables in a lively, spicy sauce.
# What You'll Need:
→ Seafood
01 - 9 ounces large shrimp, peeled and deveined
02 - 7 ounces lump crab meat or imitation crab
→ Meats
03 - 5 ounces andouille or smoked sausage, sliced
→ Pasta
04 - 12 ounces penne or linguine pasta
→ Vegetables
05 - 1 ear corn, cut into 4 rounds
06 - 1 medium red bell pepper, diced
07 - 1 small yellow onion, diced
08 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
→ Sauce
09 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
10 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
11 - 1 cup heavy cream
12 - 1/3 cup chicken or seafood broth
13 - 1 tablespoon tomato paste
14 - 2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning, plus more to taste
15 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
16 - 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional
17 - Salt and black pepper, to taste
→ Garnishes
18 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
19 - 1 lemon, cut into wedges
# Steps to Follow:
01 - Cook pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water following package instructions. For the final 5 minutes, add corn rounds to the same pot. Drain both and set aside.
02 - Heat olive oil and 1 tablespoon of butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Sauté sausage slices until browned, about 3 to 4 minutes. Remove sausage from skillet and set aside.
03 - In the same skillet, add diced onion and red bell pepper. Cook until softened, around 4 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for another minute.
04 - Stir in tomato paste, Cajun seasoning, smoked paprika, and cayenne pepper. Cook for 1 minute to intensify the flavors.
05 - Add shrimp to the skillet and cook until just pink, about 2 to 3 minutes. Gently fold in crab meat and reserved sausage.
06 - Pour in broth and heavy cream, bringing to a gentle simmer. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes until the sauce slightly thickens. Season with salt and black pepper as needed.
07 - Add drained pasta and corn rounds to the skillet. Toss to combine, incorporating remaining butter. Warm through and adjust seasoning if desired.
08 - Plate immediately, topping with chopped fresh parsley and serving alongside lemon wedges.
