Valentine's Day Shrimp Pasta with Spinach and Pine Nuts for 2

Valentine's Day is right around the corner so I will spend these next few weeks on dishes that are filling, easy and elegant! This dish has gone through so many variations first it started off as one of those I have shrimp and pasta lets make a last minute meal, then I added spinach, then I started with a cream sauce and decided that I want to try something lighter, and after all those trials and errors I have found something that works and that more importantly is YUM! The fun thing about this recipe is that instead of shrimp you can use fresh oysters, scallops, clams. You can also add a bit of heavy cream and grated parmesan cheese to the butter to make a creamy sauce and if you do that you can use a penne pasta and bake! But for now I will show you the basic one before expanding! 


What You Need (Basing this recipe on diner for 2): 

• 1/2 lb. of Angel Hair Pasta (used in the pictures) or Linguine 
• 1lb. Large Shrimp (Seasoned with a couple dashes of salt and 3 grinds from the pepper mill) 
• Salt/Pepper
• 6-8 Garlic Cloves (whole)
• 2 tbl. Pine Nuts
• Small shallot
• 1 1/2 Sticks Butter (Unsalted)
• 2c.  or two handfuls of Spinach 
• 2 Strips of prosciutto 

In a small sauce pot on extremely low heat slowly melt 1 stick of butter with minced Shallot. Cook until Butter is melted and warm. 

In a small saute pan heat 1 Tbl. of butter over medium heat till butter is hot, but not browned. Add garlic cloves and pine nuts to the hot butter saute until garlic cloves are browned and fragrant.  Set Aside. 

Wipe off pan and use it to fry up the prosciutto until crispy, place on paper towels and set aside. When the prosciutto cools off crumble and set aside.

In a large skillet heat over med high heat the shallot butter mixture in skillet, when warmed add shrimp and season to taste with salt and pepper. Cook until shrimp are pink on both sides. 

Add 2c. of Spinach and reserved pine nuts and garlic cloves cook until the spinach is wilted.  

Now I take a servings portion of pasta and in a small bowl pour half the shrimp mixture over the pasta and toss together (coating pasta in butter mixture) then I plate it. Top pasta with Shaved parmesan cheese (it just looks so much more elegant), crumbled prosciutto and cracked pepper. Serve with crusty bread it's perfect for sopping up that buttery goodness after the pasta is gone.

For Valentine's Day Serve this elegant dish with Riondo Prosecco. This fruity, light-bodied offering offers terrific floral notes, persistent effervescence, and a clean delicate finish. Make it more festive by adding a small scoop of your favorite sorbet (Mango, guava, and raspberry goes well) or just leave it as is. 

Crisp, Elegant, Delicious!