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Pungent Pastas!

© Judy Howle

I love pasta! I have collected some tantalizing recipes for you including the first one that I created recently, trying to emulate Red Lobster's recipe. It's close! Feel free to add more hot stuff to any of the recipes. Enjoy!

Cajun Shrimp or Crawfish Pasta
by Judy Howle

• 2 Tbs butter
• 2 Tbs. Flour
• 1 cup milk or more it too thick
• ¼ cup white wine or more to taste
• garlic to taste
• Cajun seasoning to taste, I used at least 2 tsp
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese (or more)
• at least ½ lb peeled cooked shrimp or crawfish tails

If you start with raw shrimp or crawfish, sauté it in butter with garlic and some Cajun seasoning on it before adding to sauce and reduce amount of seasoning in the sauce.

Serve over angel hair pasta.

Arrabiata Sauce

• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 3/8 cup red wine
• 1 tablespoon white sugar
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil
• 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 2 (14.5 ounce) cans peeled and diced tomatoes
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

1 Heat oil in a saucepan or large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic; saute 5 minutes.

2 Stir in wine, sugar, basil, red pepper, tomato paste, lemon juice, Italian seasoning, black pepper, and tomatoes; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium, and cook, uncovered, about 15 minutes.

3 Stir in parsley. Ladle over hot cooked pasta.

Fettuccine with Sweet Pepper-Cayenne Sauce

" Very flavorful and spicy. You'll never know it's a healthy dish. You can also add some cut up grilled chicken - wonderful! "

• 12 ounces dry fettucine pasta
• 2 red bell peppers, julienned
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 3/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 cup reduced fat sour cream
• 3/4 cup chicken broth
• 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• salt and pepper to taste

1 Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain. 2 Meanwhile, spray cooking oil in a large skillet and saute red bell peppers, garlic and cayenne pepper over medium heat for 3 to 5 minutes. 3 Stir in sour cream and broth; simmer uncovered for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in cheese. 4 Toss hot pasta with sauce and season with salt and pepper to taste; serve.

Pasta Poblano

" This recipe relies upon a Mexican way to cook pasta. For a heartier variation stir in a little cooked and diced chicken. Poblano peppers are a dark green chile with a flavor that can range from mild to slightly spicy. They are usually around 4 to 5 inches long and are sometimes known as Ancho or Mulato chiles. "

The copyright of the article Pungent Pastas! in Spicy Cuisine is owned by Judy Howle. Permission to republish Pungent Pastas! in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.