Let’s begin with stating the apparent. I like pasta. Duh. How will you not? The chances with what you are able to do with it are countless so it’s onerous to get tired of it and bonus- it’s very cheap. I’ll admit, I was a slave to jarred sauces and premixed issues to cook dinner pasta, however that was till I figured how how far more scrumptious and surprisingly fairly straightforward it’s to whip up a sauce from scratch. The listing of elements could be a little bit lengthy for some and it could really feel prefer it’s tremendous sophisticated, but it surely’s completely not. So long as you prep your elements earlier than you begin, it’s a chunk of cake. Observe the order of occasions and this Shrimp and Scallop Pasta in White Wine Cream Sauce might be achieved earlier than you recognize it.
If you’re on the lookout for another pasta varieties, take a look at my Cajun Rooster Pasta, Cheese Stuffed Manicotti Florentine, or Creamy Spinach and Mushroom Orzo.
Reading: Shrimp and scallop pasta with white wine sauce

Table of Contents
Breaking down the ingredient prep!
One of the best factor you are able to do when cooking something, particularly when there are loads of elements concerned, is prep. And there are fairly a couple of elements on this specific shrimp and scallop pasta recipe. Chop, zest, grate, slice, and so forth. every part wanted and put each in a separate prep bowl. For this, earlier than I even made it to the range I:
- peeled and deveined the shrimp (for those who acquired some already achieved, bonus!)
- patted dry and positioned scallops and shrimp in two bowls sprinkled with Tony Chachere’s Creole Seasoning.
- portioned out the butter
- diced the shallot
- grated the garlic
- chopped the pancetta
- zested the lemon
- chopped the parsley
- poured the wine and cream into separate measuring cups able to pour
- microplaned the parmesan (use block parmesan and a microplaner (paid hyperlink). Nooooooo pre-shredded or that powdery stuff!)
- measured out the Tony’s and chipotle chili pepper

Word: Utilizing block parmesan cheese and a microplaner is the easiest method to make use of parmesan cheese right here. It’s simply not the identical to make use of the powder or the pre-shredded!!

It actually will depend on the dish, however extra usually that not, I microplane the garlic as effectively. You get teeny tiny items which might be mainly garlic paste versus bigger items once you mince it. It’s far more efficient (in my expertise) than a garlic press. I get EVERY single morsel of the garlic, whereas in a garlic press, I’m all the time left with no less than half of it smashed on the within.
For zesting the lemon? Ding! You guessed it. Microplaner.

The remainder I simply chopped the quaint method. Teeny items for the shallot and small cubes for the pancetta. You can probably discover pancetta at your common grocery retailer. Typically it’s with the flowery meats and cheeses, generally yow will discover it packaged with the lunch meat. What’s essential although is that you simply get a bigger chunk. Don’t get that paper skinny stuff. You need there to be some substance to the meat. We discovered this within the deli and had them chop of two thick chunks. It got here out to be about ⅓ of a pound.
What sort of pasta ought to I exploit?
Earlier than we transfer on to the precise cooking, let’s discuss concerning the pasta. Usually talking, you need to use thicker, larger pastas for heavier, meatier sauces and smaller pastas for lighter, creamy, buttery pastas.

Also read: Recipe for honey chipotle sauce
For this dish, I used to be feeling fancy and determined to make fettuccini from scratch. Ever since I acquired a pasta maker (paid hyperlink) for Christmas, I’m addicted. However select what type you want. Don’t really feel like it’s important to choose the right pairing primarily based on the foundations I mentioned above. Some individuals love angel hair for every part. We grew up utilizing spaghetti prefer it was the one pasta that existed. I selected to do fettuccine. Sure there are “rules” in cooking, however on the finish of the day, you’re consuming it. So if it tastes good and also you prefer it, it’s not flawed. That’s how we function right here at System of a Brown.
In relation to beginning the water, relying on how lengthy the prep takes, I usually begin the water straight away. If it’s going to take a very long time, I’ll flip it on a decrease temperature so it may possibly no less than be heated. That method, it should boil a lot faster if you find yourself prepared to show it up.
Let’s cook dinner some shrimp and scallop pasta!
Okay I’ve rambled sufficient. Your elements are prepped, your water is heating, and every part is able to go.



To get it began, cook dinner the pancetta. In a scorching pan, cook dinner the pancetta till golden brown and the entire fats has rendered out. This oil is what we’re going to make use of as the bottom for every part. It’s going to make fairly a bit. When it’s all rendered, take away the pancetta (put aside for later) and take away all however 1 tablespoon of the pancetta oil (additionally set this apart for later).
Searing the shrimp and scallops
There are a few issues to recollect right here:
- Don’t use an excessive amount of oil or butter. The primary time I made scallops I used butter, and I used to be considering “aw yeah, look at all this buttery goodness.” however I used an excessive amount of and I couldn’t get a great sear on the scallops. Actually, for those who take a look at my picture above, this one wasn’t nice. However it’s as a result of I forgot to take away many of the oil earlier than I began. Study from my mistake.
- Don’t overcook! Nothing’s worse than rubbery, overcooked shellfish. It cooks method sooner than you suppose, in order quickly as it’s opaque all through, only a couple minutes per aspect, take it out and set it apart.
As your seafood cooks, there might be brown bits caught to the pan, even when it’s a non stick pan. Depart them! We’ll use these in a couple of minutes. I cooked the scallops first and the shrimp second. Set them apart in a bowl and canopy it with foil. They’ll keep heat, don’t fear.
The white wine cream sauce
Earlier than we even start- fast observe concerning the wine: Don’t cook dinner with wine you gained’t drink. Now, I don’t drink white wine as a result of I don’t prefer it. However I do prefer it in meals. The purpose is it must be a top quality ingredient to ship the very best taste. It doesn’t need to be costly. I used a Pinot Grigio that was about $10.

When the seafood is out, pour no matter pancetta oil you will have left and your two tablespoons of butter into the pan. Let it soften and get scorching! Add the shallots and garlic, then cook dinner down for about 3-4 minutes. Watch out: garlic can burn FAST if the pan is simply too scorching. Final, Add the lemon zest.
Read more: How to make pasta without sauce
When all these elements are cooked, now we deglaze. Bear in mind these caught brown bits I talked about earlier? Pour the wine into your scorching pan, and it’ll bubble up straight away, selecting up all these caught on items and dealing it into the sauce. That is deglazing a pan, and it’s your finest buddy.
Let the wine boil and cook dinner down for about 3-4 minutes. You need it to scale back some, however not evaporate all the way in which. After a couple of minutes of decreasing, pour in your cream, and blend totally. Then end off by pouring within the parmesan cheese, cooked pancetta, Tony Chachere’s (paid hyperlink), and chipotle chili pepper (kind of relying on how spicy you need it). Squeeze the juice of half a lemon over the sauce (be careful for seeds!), let it boil for a only a few minutes to thicken, after which flip it all the way down to low. Be sure you style as you go! Add salt and pepper for those who really feel you want it.
Placing all of it collectively: Shrimp and Scallop Pasta with White Wine Cream Sauce


By this time, your water is unquestionably boiling. In case you haven’t already, add the pasta to the (salted!) water. Observe the package deal instructions so far as how lengthy to cook dinner it. I used contemporary pasta so it solely took a couple of minutes. In case you depart the sauce on low, it’ll be high quality whereas your pasta cooks. It’ll simply sit and get extra scrumptious!
Drain the pasta, however DO NOT RINSE. In case you rinse, it’ll wash all that starchy goodness off after which your sauce gained’t persist with the pasta as effectively. I rinsed pasta each time I made spaghetti rising up, and once I realized you shouldn’t, I felt like my complete life was a lie.

Put the pasta a little bit at a time straight into the pan of sauce. You don’t have to make use of the entire pot you made, simply eyeball it the way you prefer it. I feel I used about 16 ounces of pasta, perhaps extra. You’ll have the ability to inform. An excessive amount of and there isn’t sufficient sauce to go round. Too little and it’s soupy. Simply add a little bit at a time, tossing as you go, till it seems to be good to you. Add the seafood, toss, give it one other squeeze of lemon, end off with some parsley, and growth! Completed.
Whew! That was quite a bit. However there was quite a bit to speak about. It looks like quite a bit, but it surely’s actually not onerous. It’s extra time consuming than troublesome, however MAN is it scrumptious. It’s value it to get this delicious bowl of shrimp and scallop pasta with white wine cream sauce. So go forward! Indulge!
Get pleasure from!
Too wealthy for you? This Vegetarian Spaghetti Squash Pasta Bake is a GREAT lighter choice!
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