I love Fettuccine Alfredo, but during the summer months it's a little heavy. It doesn't mean I still don't crave it.
I have made "Lighter" Fettuccine Alfredo and a quick "weeknight" version of Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo. Both are fabulous but I still wanted something lighter, something more summery with a kiss of sunshine. After racking my brain, I decided charred corn, basil an eensy bit of cream (1/4 cup) and some lemon juice would make a perfect summer alfredo sauce. Okay, honestly I didn't even know if it was going to work.
But it did! It's not heavy and almost seems "sauceless" but at the same time it's creamy. I know that's hard to imagine but you'll get it once you taste it. Let's just call it an anomaly.
I am currently into shrimp, mostly in tacos, but they seem to be appearing in my other dishes too. I couldn't resist topping this very summery pasta with some blackened shrimp.
Let me set the stage, a bite of the shrimp, with its cajun flavors, the sweet corn and bright lemon taste in the pasta...it's heaven and summa' all in one bite. You will make this again and again.
Now, contrary to many beliefs, "blackened" is a seasoning not a method. I know there is some confusion out there. You can make your own blackened seasoning, there are recipes available. However, I find it easiest to just pick some up at the store. It's not always in the spice aisle so check around the meat counter, that's where I always find it.
Creamy Corn Fettuccine with Blackened Shrimp
Recipe Created by Cathy Pollak | Serves: 4
Ingredients
4 large ears of corn, husked
3 Tablespoons butter
Blackened Shrimp:
20 extra large prawns, peeled and deveined
1/4 cup butter, melted
Blackened Seasoning
Pasta:
12 ounces dry fettuccine pasta
2 Tablespoons butter
1/2 cup onion, diced
2 teaspoons garlic, minced
1 Tablespoon flour
2 cups corn kernels (from previous part of recipe)
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 cup finely shredded Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup thinly sliced fresh basil
juice of 1/2 a lemon
salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
Heat a large grill pan over medium-high heat and add butter, coating the pan with it. Place corn on the grill pan and char the kernels, turning as necessary. Remove charred kernels from the cob with a knife and set aside. (You could also do this on the grill.)
Heat a cast iron skillet (dry) over medium-high heat. Place prepared shrimp on a tray and brush one side with melted butter. Sprinkle buttery side of shrimp generously with blackened seasoning. Place blackened side down on pan and cook until blackened, about 2 minutes. Turn shrimp over and cook until opaque. Keep warm.
Cook fettuccine according to package directions. In a large saute pan over medium heat, saute onion in butter until soft, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and saute for another 30 seconds. Add flour and stir until combined, cook for about one minute. Add corn kernels , water, heavy cream and sugar. Simmer until slightly thickened; 2 minutes. (But there will not be "lots" of sauce.) Add cooked pasta directly from the pasta water. Add Parmesan, basil, lemon juice and salt and pepper to taste. Stir well.
Divide pasta among four dishes and place 5 blackened shrimp on top of each bowl. Serve immediately.
Cathy owns a vineyard and winery in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. She is a food writer for Davis Life Magazine and blogs daily about wine, food and everyday living. She lives with her husband and two sons. You can visit her at noblepig.com.