Chili Dusted Shrimp and Pasta

Chili Dusted Shrimp with a Fire Roasted Orange Bell Pepper Pasta

Chili Dusted Shrimp With A Fire Roasted Orange Bell Pepper Pasta

     I recently received a free package of chili mix in the mail. Part of a contest I was in. After following the instructions on the box to make the chili, I discovered that it was not good. Not good at all. As in 8 people tried it and only one person had anything nice to say, and it wasn’t that nice. I was trying to think of other ways to use the spices rather than just throwing it out and came up with an idea.

Grilling tip – Using two skewers keeps your shrimp from turning when you try to flip them

    I kept thinking back to a pasta that Mrs. G had whipped up a few weeks ago. Grilled shrimp on a bed of pasta…sounds Awesome! Coming out of nowhere, fire roasted red bell peppers joined the party as well. Finally, my dish was taking shape.

Shrimp seasoned with salt, pepper and DAD’s Chili Mix

Ingredients

(Serves 4)

• 32 shrimp
• 1 orange bell pepper
• 16 oz linguine (1 box)
• 3/4 cup unsalted butter (1.5 sticks)
• 4 tbsp chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 8 oz Parmesan cheese, grated (use a wedge of Parmesan cheese and grate it yourself if possible)
• DAD’s Chili Mix
• salt and pepper

Orange Bell Pepper seasoned with salt and pepper (I know…I originally said red bell pepper, but when I got to the store, the reds looked horrible and the oranges looked fresher)

    You may wonder why I went with an orange bell peppers rather than a green bell peppers (other than I can’t stand green bell peppers…YUCK!!). You may also be wondering what the difference is between a green bell pepper and an orange one is. Orange bell peppers have been left on the plant longer to ripen than the immature green peppers and therefore have a sweeter quality. Green bell peppers have a tannic bitterness to them.

Set up your grill for a direct cook at 400F (or medium high heat). Spray bell pepper with cooking spray and season with salt and pepper. Place pepper on grill and turn every few minutes until charred all over.

Fire roasted orange bell pepper

     When charred on all sides, remove bell pepper, place in a bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Allow to sit for 5 to 10 minutes and then remove skin from bell pepper. Remove the seeds and veins from the pepper. Dice the pepper into 1/4 to 1/2″ pieces depending on your preference and set aside.

     Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add linguine and cook according to directions on the box.

Bread cooking on grill

If desired, while pasta is boiling, slice up a loaf of French bread on the diagonal, butter each side and top with fresh parsley. Grill for a few minutes per side until butter had melted and bread is charred to your liking.

Shrimp on the grill

     While pasta is boiling, place the shrimp on the grill (this can also be done at the same time you are grilling you bread). The shrimp will take about two minutes per side. You will know when the shrimp are done when they no longer show any of their original color and begin to turn a pink, orangish color. Do not overcook the shrimp or they will turn rubbery and will begin to lose their flavor. Once the shrimp are done, bring them inside and loosely cover them with foil while you drain and prepare the pasta.

(Helpful tip – if you have two people, have one person begin grilling the shrimp the minute the pasta is done and the other person starts to drain and prepare the pasta).

Chili Dusted Shrimp with a Fire Roasted Orange Bell Pepper Pasta

To prepare the pasta, drain and return to pot. Add the butter, parsley, diced bell pepper, and half the Parmesan cheese and toss well until the butter and cheese have melted. Divide among individual serving bowls or plates. Sprinkle the remaining Parmesan cheese on top and add the shrimp. Serve immediately.

Chili Dusted Shrimp with a Fire Roasted Orange Bell Pepper Pasta

 I thought this was an outstanding dish. The sharp, complex fruity/nutty taste of the Parmesan cheese played well the pleasantly sweet flavor of the orange bell pepper, but the shrimp was truly the star. The spices from the chili mix were a unique and complex addition to the shrimp, yet did not overpower them with heat. The salty, briney flavor from the sea really came through in the shrimp. If anything, this being a mild chili mix, the heat seemed to be lacking somewhat. If you are a heat lover, you may want to amp it up with some cayenne, ancho or chipotle powders. 

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