Easy Chorizo and Prawn Pasta

By: Merritt Allen

A quick pasta dinner is one of the greatest recipes to have in your back pocket! This chorizo and prawn pasta is a delicious, full of flavor from the chorizo that is paired with prawns, tomato sauce, and a delightful amount of creamy Pecorino cheese. This chorizo and prawn pasta is super fast, but really filling, making it a great weeknight meal or a breezy weekend dish.

Chorizo is a spicy cured Spanish sausage and in this chorizo and prawn pasta, we use an uncooked version of pork chorizo that adds a little fat and a lot of spice! The sauce is made from simple tomato sauce, pasta water, and pecorino that is the perfect pairing with the spicy chorizo.

This post will walk you through making this creamy chorizo and prawn pasta so that you have a balanced and creamy dish that is delicious but easy to make!

Notes and Tips For Chorizo and Prawn Pasta:

• This recipe will make about 4-6 servings. Store in an air-tight container and reheat on low power in the microwave. Top with fresh Pecorino and your chorizo and prawn pasta will taste super fresh!

• The chorizo can be cooked a few days in advance and stored in the fridge. Since the shrimp is cooked in the sausage oil, you can replace the sausage grease with a couple tablespoons of butter.

• Be sure to save some pasta water! You will need about 1 cup total but if you forget, you can just use regular warm water.

Common Questions For Chorizo and Prawn Pasta

What Kind Of Chorizo Do I Need?

• Chorizo comes in cured sausage form or uncooked ground form that has chorizo seasoning. I used uncooked chorizo pork sausage. I like using this type of chorizo because it allows the shrimp to be cooked in the sausage grease which creates a lot of flavor! If you would prefer to use a cured sausage link form, just make sure to add in some oil when you go to cook your shrimp.

• Chorizo can also vary in spice level. Be sure to buy the one that fits your palate. I call for spicy chorizo sausage because I love it, but you can use a mild version for equally delicious results.

What Kind Of Pasta Do I Need?

• Rigatoni is the star of the show in this chorizo and prawn pasta dish. Rigatoni is a short and wide pasta that holds the sauce super well since it has ridges on the side and some of the sauce can get down into the pasta. I recommend looking for a pasta that can hold sauce either by holding it in, like penne, or has texture on the outside to help hold the sauce that way.

• If you can find fresh pasta that will work great too! Fresh pasta is starchier and cooks much faster.

What Substitutions and Additions Can I Make For Chorizo and Prawn Pasta?

• Some substitutions for chorizo and prawn pasta are listed below:

  • You can use bacon, pancetta, or chicken sausage instead of chorizo. Chicken sausage will be a lighter version that will sit a little lighter.

  • You can use gluten free pasta to make this chorizo and prawn pasta gluten free.

  • You can use small shrimp, chicken breast or thigh instead of the prawns for this dish. Chicken will cook a little differently than prawns or shrimp and may take a longer, making this dish take a little extra time.

What To Serve With Chorizo and Prawn Pasta

• Chorizo and prawn pasta is great served with a light vegetable. This pasta dish is creamy and rich, but can be lifted with a salad or light vegetable. I have listed a few of my favorites below!

• Beetroot Salad with Feta and Candied Walnuts is lightly sweet, fibrous, and so delicious!

• The Best Kale Salad with Apple uses kale and Romain to create a super crunchy of light salad that is perfect pasta night!

• Toasted Chickpea Salad with Honey Mustard Dressing is a perfect pairing for chorizo and prawn pasta! It has some of my favorite ingredients and uses my favorite honey mustard dressing!

Ingredients for Chorizo and Prawn Pasta

Recipe:

• 0.5 lb Pork Chorizo Sausage
• 2 lb Prawns, Fresh or Frozen Be sure to defrost before starting to cook. See notes above for substitutions.
• (1) 15 oz can Tomato Sauce (Passata) This is not the same as tomato paste.
• 5 garlic cloves, minced You can also leave the garlic chunky for more texture and a strong garlic flavor!
• 2/3 cup finely chopped white onion Yellow onion works well too.
• 1/2 cup finely shaved Pecorino Cheese You can find Pecorino dust at some grocery stores! If not, just use a cheese grater on a brick of pecorino.
• 8-10 oz Rigatoni Or Pasta of choice. I made this recipe with extra large rigatoni!
• 1 egg + 1 Yolk The egg and egg yolk helps create a silky smooth pasta!
• 2 Tbs butter or olive oil, as needed
• salt and pepper, to taste

How To Make Chorizo and Prawn Pasta

1. Cook the Chorizo

   1. Over medium-high heat, brown and cook the chorizo with the onion and garlic in a skillet.

   2. While the sausage is cooking, finely mince the garlic, chop the onion, and grate the cheese (if needed).

   3. Once the chorizo is cooked through, and the onions are very cooked down, remove to a plate, leaving the grease in the pan.

   4. To the same pan, add the shrimp with a pinch of salt. Cook for 1-2 minutes on each side on until just turning pink.

   5. Remove the shrimp from the pan to a paper towel lined plate to drain.

2. Cook the Pasta and Combine

   1. Bring a pot of water to boil

   2. Add the rigatoni and a very generous amount of salt to water. Cook according to package instructions to Al Dente. Reserve 1-2 cups of pasta water.

   3. When the pasta is 5-7 minutes away from being done, add the chorizo and onion mixture back to a skillet over medium heat.

   4. Add the tomato sauce and bring to a low simmer.

   5. In a separate bowl, add the egg yolks and pecorino to a bowl with 2 Tbs of pasta water. Mix until well combined and sludge like.

   6. Add the cheese mixture to your pan.

   7. Slowly add pasta water until the mixture is well combined, creamy, and all the cheese is melted and smooth.

   8. Lastly, add the Prawns back and stir to combine.

   9. Serve with extra Pecorino and Enjoy!

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Chorizo and Prawn Pasta

Yield: 6

Author: Merritt Allen

Prep Time: 15 MinCook Time: 30 MinTotal time: 45 Min

This chorizo and prawn pasta is an easy but decadent pasta dish that is a little spicy but full of creamy tomato flavor!

Ingredients

Chorizo and Prawn Pasta

• 0.5 lb Pork Chorizo Sausage
• 2 lb Prawns, Fresh or Frozen.
• (1) 15 oz can Tomato Sauce (Passata).
• 5 garlic cloves, minced.
• 2/3 cup finely chopped white onion.
• 1/2 cup finely shaved Pecorino Cheese
• 8-10 oz Rigatoni
• 1 egg + 1 Yolk
• 2 Tbs butter or olive oil, as needed
• salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

How to Make Chorizo and Prawn Pasta

1. Over medium-high heat, brown and cook the chorizo with the onion and garlic in a skillet.
2. While the sausage is cooking, finely mince the garlic, chop the onion, and grate the cheese (if needed).
3. Once the chorizo is cooked through, and the onions are very cooked down, remove to a plate, leaving the grease in the pan.
4. To the same pan, add the shrimp with a pinch of salt. Cook for 1-2 minutes on each side on until just turning pink.
5. Remove the shrimp from the pan to a paper towel lined plate to drain.
6. Bring a pot of water to boil
7. Add the rigatoni and a very generous amount of salt to water. Cook according to package instructions to Al Dente. Reserve 1-2 cups of pasta water.
8. When the pasta is 5-7 minutes away from being done, add the chorizo and onion mixture back to a skillet over medium heat.
9. Add the tomato sauce and bring to a low simmer.
10. In a separate bowl, add the egg yolks and pecorino to a bowl with 2 Tbs of pasta water. Mix until well combined and sludge like.
11. Add the cheese mixture to your pan.
12. Slowly add pasta water until the mixture is well combined, creamy, and all the cheese is melted and smooth.
13. Lastly, add the Prawns back and stir to combine.
14. Serve with extra Pecorino and Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts

Calories

458

Fat

14 g

Carbs

38 g

Protein

44 g

Cholesterol

311 mg

Fiber

3 g

Net carbs

36 g

Sat. Fat

6 g

Sodium

654 mg

Sugar

5 g

Nutritional Information is an estimate only. Exact values will vary based on ingredients used.

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Why I Love Chorizo and Prawn Pasta!

Chorizo and prawn pasta has quickly become one of my favorite dishes! It is lightly spicy, creamy, and super filling. I love the pairing of lean shrimp with rich chorizo sausage all combined with pasta and cheese. I also love how easy this dish is to construct, meaning I can whip it up on a weeknight when I have had a long day!