Creamy Mozzarella Shrimp Pasta (Print Version)

# Ingredients:

→ Pasta

01 - 1 pack penne pasta

→ Seafood

02 - 1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined

→ Vegetables

03 - ¼ pound sun-dried tomatoes, chopped and without oil

→ Dairy

04 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
05 - 1 cup half and half

→ Oils & Fats

06 - 3 tablespoons olive oil

→ Spices & Seasonings

07 - 3 cloves minced garlic
08 - 1 tablespoon dried oregano
09 - 1 teaspoon salt
10 - ½ teaspoon black pepper
11 - ¼ teaspoon paprika
12 - ⅛ teaspoon red pepper flakes
13 - ⅓ cup reserved pasta water

# Instructions:

01 - Boil water, add salt, and cook the penne pasta according to the package instructions. Drain the pasta, reserving ⅓ cup of pasta water.
02 - Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add minced garlic and shrimp. Cook for 1 minute on one side until pink or golden brown. Sprinkle salt evenly over shrimp. Flip shrimp to the other side and cook for another 30 seconds to 1 minute until golden pink.
03 - Remove the shrimp from the skillet, keeping the oil in the pan. Add sun-dried tomatoes and additional minced garlic to the skillet. Cook for 1 minute over medium heat while stirring.
04 - In the warm skillet, bring half and half to a boil with the sun-dried tomatoes. Add 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese, stirring to combine. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook until the cheese has melted and a creamy sauce forms. Add a small amount of half-and-half or reserved pasta water if the sauce is too thick.
05 - Stir in oregano, paprika, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper. Gradually add salt while stirring and tasting until it reaches the desired flavor.
06 - Add cooked pasta to the sauce and stir to coat. Return shrimp to the skillet and mix until well combined. Adjust salt as needed. Let everything simmer on low heat for a few minutes.

# Notes:

01 - Shirataki noodles, spaghetti squash noodles, and zucchini noodles are excellent pasta substitutes.
02 - Use part-skim mozzarella cheese with minimal moisture for the sauce.
03 - Heavy cream can be substituted for half and half, but the sauce may be thinner.

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