Who says you can’t enjoy pasta as part of a healthy, anti-inflammatory diet? They key to doing so is to balance the carbs in the pasta with healthy fats, proteins, and veggies. I like to combine an organic, high-protein pasta with a vibrant, healthy tomato sauce and olive oil. If you’d rather eat regular semolina pasta, just limit pasta portion size and add a quality protein and some healthy fat. This zesty and hearty shrimp fra diavolo recipe is a combination of both approaches.
Shrimp Fra Diavolo Ingredients:
*Choose organic / wild-caught ingredients whenever possible*
- 1 lb of peeled and deveined shrimp
- 2 tsp Italian Seasoning & Dipping Blend
- Natural Salt Blend, to taste
- 3 Tbsp + 2 tsp Jalapeño Garlic Flavored Olive Oil or Garlic Olive Oil (if you want less chili heat)
- 1 Jar Organic Tomato Sauce – Arrabbiata for a robust hot and spicy flavor, Marinara for a milder flavor, or a combination of both.
- 2 cups broccoli florets
- 1 bag /box of pasta (preferably an organic, high-protein red lentil or chickpea pasta)
- 4+ quarts water
How to Make Shrimp Fra Diavolo:
Toss the shrimp in a bowl with olive oil of choice, the Italian Seasoning & Dipping Blend and 2 grinds of the salt blend.
Heat 3 Tbsp of Jalapeño Garlic or Garlic Olive Oil on medium heat in a large skillet. Add the shrimp and sauté for 4 to 6 minutes until they turn opaque and pink. Remove from skillet and set aside.
Add the broccoli to the skillet with ⅓ cup of water and cover. Cook on medium-high heat, stirring occasionally and adding water as necessary until broccoli is cooked but still firm (al dente). Remove from the pan and set aside.
Return the shrimp plus a jar of pasta sauce into the skillet and cook on low to medium heat, just to warm through and meld flavors. Add the broccoli (or serve on the side of the pasta, if you prefer).
While making the shrimp and broccoli, bring 4 cups of water and a few grinds of salt to a boil in the stock pot. Add the pasta and cook until al denté.
Drain and toss pasta in 2 tsp of olive oil of choice and spoon into four bowls. Spoon equal portions of the sauce and shrimp mixture onto the pasta and enjoy!
What I Like About this Healthy Pasta Recipe
Shrimp are a cinch to cook up and they add protein and omega 3’s – important when you’re eating carbs. As part of the pasta dish, or on the side, broccoli adds a ton of vitamins and nutrients and healthy fiber. As a rule, I combine broccoli with tomatoes or tomato sauce whenever I can because the sulforaphane in broccoli and the lycopene in tomatoes have a powerful synergistic effect in the body.
Last but not least, I add olive oil – not only to enhance the flavor, but to help you feel satiated. Eating a healthy fat like olive oil will also help your body absorb the lycopene in those tomatoes -it’s a home run in my book!
Want to learn more about how pasta can be a part of a heart-healthy diet? Download my Pasta Diet Ebook here – It’s FREE!
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From my heart to yours,
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