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Let’s do a pasta night! Pasta is one of our old comfort foods. Creamy or spicy, they are all delicious. This super-simple Spanish pasta recipe is loaded with chorizo and shrimp. Thick strands of fettuccine get topped with smoky sausage, plump shrimp, and salty olives. The flavorful sauce is mildly spicy and ties the meal together perfecly.
Our Spanish pasta with chorizo and shrimp is a recipe that is easy enough to serve on a busy weeknight. It is also classy enough to serve for special dinner guests. Slices of Spanish chorizo and big meaty shrimp swim in a rich flavorful sauce.
The sauce consists of shallots, garlic, wine, fish broth, fresh tomatoes and tangy Kalamata olives. Smoky paprika adds a punch of flavor to the broth but it is that Spanish chorizo that really kicks up the flavor.
This pasta dish is easy, hearty, and filling. For more quick weeknight pasta dinners, try our rasta pasta or our chicken tortellini alfredo.
Is Spanish Chorizo the same as Mexican Chorizo?
Spanish chorizo and Mexican chorizo are not the same. They are both made from pork but from there they begin to differ.
Spanish Chorizo:
The spice profile in Spanish chorizo includes a lot of smoky paprika, garlic, and spices. This sausage is mildly spiced but it has so much flavor! It is the paprika that gives the sausage its red color and its prominent smoky flavor. Spanish chorizo is sold as cured or semi-cured. If cured, you can eat it ‘as-is’ just like a dry-cured Italian salami.
Semi-cured Spanish chorizo will require additional cooking. It is usually packaged in links and will take five to ten minutes to cook. Instructions for cooking will be on the package. Spanish Chorizo will be located in the same area as salami and cold-cut meats.
For our Spanish Chorizo and Shrimp Pasta, we used Seattle-made Uli’s semi-cooked chorizo links with pure ingredients of pork, salt, dried garlic, spices and lots of smoky paprika powder. If you are unable to find Spanish chorizo the best substitute would be Portuguese linguica. Portuguese linguica has similar spices as Spanish chorizo but includes spicy chilies.
Mexican Chorizo:
Mexican chorizo usually has pork, beef or a combination of pork and beef. It has a spice profile that includes the Mexican flavors such as oregano and cumin. Plus, it will include a good amount of Ancho chilies which give it the red coloring and some heat!
Because of the added chile, Mexican chorizo will be hot and spicy rather than mild like its Spanish cousin. Mexican chorizo is sold raw and must be cooked before eating. You will find Mexican chorizo in the fresh meat section of the market in either bulk sausage or in its casings.
How to make our Spanish Pasta:
As we said above, this is a super-simple pasta dish. Put a pot of water on for the pasta and while it is cooking, sauté the chorizo in a large skillet, add the shallots, garlic, and seasoning. Next add a little white wine, fish broth, and tomato paste.
The fish broth really gives the sauce a great flavor but probably isn’t something you keep in your pantry on a regular basis. You can find fish broth packaged either in a box located with the chicken and beef broths or frozen in the fish freezer section. Additionally, if you are in the mood, you could make your own fish broth from scratch. And you could also substitute the fish broth with chicken broth.
Once the sauce in the skillet begins to boil, add the sliced tomatoes, Kalamata olives and cook for a minute, then add the shrimp. Pull the skillet off the heat and let the shrimp cook in the residual heat. They will turn pink and begin to curl quickly.
Tip: To Poach the Shrimp:
Shrimp is easy to over-cook so you need to watch them closely. When the shrimp are pink and partially closed into the shape of a letter ‘C’ they are perfect. An overcooked shrimp will close up like the letter ‘O’ and will be a little tough and chewy.
By now, your pasta is ready and drained. Divide the pasta into bowls and scoop the chorizo-shrimp sauce over each portion. Garnish with chopped parsley and serve with grated Parmesan cheese and warm sourdough garlic bread to sop up the delicious sauce!
This Spanish chorizo and shrimp pasta can be a stand-alone dinner or dress it up with a glass of red wine and a crisp green salad. Enjoy! ❤️
More Recipes We Are Sure You Will Love:
- Linguini with Spanish Chorizo and Romesco Sauce
- Sheet Pan Chicken Dinner
- Creamy Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta
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Spanish Chorizo and Shrimp Pasta
If you make this recipe, please leave a star rating and comment.
Ingredients
- 8 ounces dry fettuccine
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 8 ounces Chorizo, cut into 1/4-inch slices
- 2 medium shallots, sliced
- 3 cloves garlic , grated or minced
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon smoky paprika
- 1/2 cup dry white wine
- 2 cups fish broth, or sub with chicken broth
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 16 ounces grape tomatoes, sliced in half
- 8 ounces Kalamata olives
- 1 pound medium shrimp
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Parsley , for garnish
Instructions
- Fill a large pot with salted water and bring to a boil over high heat. Add the dry pasta and cook according to manufacturer’s instructions.
Meanwhile,
- Heat the oil in a large skillet set over medium heat, add the sliced chorizo and sauté for five minutes.
- Add shallots and cook until lightly wilted, about 2-3 minutes. Add the garlic and cook just until the garlic becomes fragrant, about 30-seconds then add the salt, pepper and paprika.
- Stir in the wine and cook for 1-2 minutes to burn off the alcohol. Add the fish broth and whisk in the tomato paste.
- Bring the sauce to a boil, add the sliced tomatoes and Kalamata olives, cook for 2-3 minutes.
- Remove the pan from the heat and add shrimp and let them cook in the hot sauce until they are pink and cooked through, about four minutes. Do not over cook the prawns or they will become tough.
To Serve:
- Drain the fettuccine and portion into 4 pasta bowls. Spoon the hot mixture equally over the fettuccine. Garnish each portion with grated Parmesan cheese and chopped parsley.
Notes
- For more sausage flavor throughout the sauce you can cut open each sausage link and break up the sausage with a fork and sauté to cook.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Like this recipe? Rate & comment below!
Have to admit, this combination looked a little strange, but I was looking for a chance to try Spanish Chorizo (not easy to come by here in the Southwest). Faith in youur recipes and the five star reviews convince me to ask no questions and follow along blindly. Pantry contents dictated using the chicken broth option. Adding another five start rating. Flavors melded beautifully and preperation was simple and quick. I’ll be doing this one again.
Thanks for the review Craig. This is a favorite. It tastes like a dish you would find in a nice restaurant, but it is fast and easy to make. And it is pretty easy on the budget as well. 😉