Shrimp. Garlic. Pasta. Herbs.
After spending time cooking and eating in Sicily many years ago, I started keeping bread crumbs around the house for use on salads, vegetables, scrambled eggs, and pasta. There is no substitute for all of the great things that happen to pasta dishes like this shrimp capellini when you finish them with the brilliantly crunchy contrast of a healthy dose of crumbs.
Herbed Shrimp Capellini with Spicy Bread Crumbs
Ingredients
Bread Crumbs
- 1/4 pound Italian bread, torn
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped parsley
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped oregano
- 2 garlic cloves, finely grated
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
- 1/2 stick unsalted butter, melted
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- Kosher salt
- Pepper
Shrimp
- 20 jumbo shrimp (2 pounds), shelled and deveined
- 1 small shallot, minced
- 2 tablespoons minced parsley
- 2 tablespoons minced basil
- 1 1/2 teaspoons minced oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon minced thyme
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
- 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for serving
- Kosher salt
- Pepper
- 3/4 pound capellini or angel hair pasta
- 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
Instructions
Make the Breadcrumbs
Preheat the oven to 350°. In a food processor, pulse the bread with the parsley, oregano, garlic and crushed red pepper until coarse crumbs form. Add the melted butter and lemon juice and pulse until evenly moistened. Season with salt and pepper, then spread the bread crumbs in an even layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake for about 10 minutes, until golden and crisp; let cool.
Make the Shrimp
Preheat the broiler and bring a large saucepan of water to a boil. In a large bowl, toss the shrimp with the shallot, parsley, basil, oregano, thyme, crushed red pepper and 1/4 cup of olive oil. Season with salt and pepper.
Arrange the shrimp in an even layer on a large, rimmed baking sheet. Broil 6 inches from the heat for 5 to 7 minutes, until lightly browned and just cooked through; flip the shrimp halfway through broiling.
Meanwhile, cook the capellini in the boiling water until al dente. Drain and transfer to a serving bowl. Add the lemon juice and the remaining 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons of olive oil and toss well. Season with salt and pepper and toss again. Arrange the shrimp over the pasta and sprinkle some of the spicy bread crumbs on top. Serve right away, passing additional bread crumbs and olive oil at the table.
Originally published in Andrew Zimmern’s Kitchen Adventures on foodandwine.com.
Photograph by Madeleine Hill.
