My Low-carb pasta solution will change the way you eat pasta and stay in ketosis!
Pasta has always been one of my favorite foods. I think this is where my heritage transcended my existence. I would eat pasta at least once a week, at least. When I started Keto, I realized I could not indulge with this dish as much until I found my new favorite low-carb pasta substitute.
I have another favorite pasta dish, that I want to try and make with my new favorite ingredient. The original recipe is seafood Pomodoro, of course, it has actual linguini, therefore not Keto friendly.
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Ingredients
The secret ingredient is called a pasta substitute called Palmini. Palmini is hearts of palm that have been sliced into the shape of three kinds of pasta, linguine, angel hair, and lasagna. If you are interested in using Palmini and many other Keto-friendly products. Give Thrive Market a chance. It is through Thrive Market that I learned about Palmini, and I am very pleased.
- Palmini Linguine Pasta
- 16/20 shrimp
- Heavy whipping cream
- A block of Parmesan cheese
- Fresh garlic
- Bay leaf
- Salt and Pepper
- Nutmeg
- Red Pepper Flakes
See the recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
The beauty of using Palmini pasta substitution is that you do not have to cook it before you assemble your dinner. The hearts of palms are soft enough and only need a few minutes in hot liquid to bring to temperature. So, this recipe is 30 minutes tops, if not faster.
- If your shrimp is not clean, shell and devein the shrimp. Give the shrimp a quick rinse to allow any transparent shells or particles to come to the top and flush away. Set aside.
- Open Palmini and pour into a colander. allow water to run and rinse the pasta from any excess salt. Remember it is hearts of palms, so it is a pickled product.
- Remove the rind of the parmesan cheese and set it aside. Grate about 2 ounces of Parmesan cheese and set aside. Mince the garlic and set aside a separate dish.
Pour a small amount of olive oil and about a tablespoon of butter into a large pan. Once hot, add the shrimp with a pinch of salt and pepper. We are not cooking the shrimp through, just enough to render flavor from them.
Remove shrimp and add the cream, rind, a dash of nutmeg, and bay leaf: bring to a simmer and cook for 7-8 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until reduced by one-half.
Add garlic. I didn't have garlic so I used a tablespoon of garlic adobo paste. Pour about a quarter cup of white cabernet savignon. Let the pasta cook for about 5 minutes and the sauce reduces in volume.
Remove rind. Add shrimp, and cook for about 2-3 minutes or until shrimp are firm but not hard. Remove from the heat.
Fold in grated cheese and pepper until blended.
Plate in a pasta bowl and garnish with parsley, red pepper flakes, and more parmesan cheese. Buen Provecho!
Hint: Because this dish does not have actual pasta, the pasta will not absorb the liquid. So do not be afraid to make your sauce thicker. If it gets to be too thick, thin it down with a little wine or chicken broth.
Substitutions
I have not tried any other pasta substitutes, so I cannot suggest a substitution for Palmini. The best way to describe the flavor is to compare it to pickled artichokes. If you enjoy the briny taste of artichokes (which complements dishes like this one) you will be in for a treat.
- No meat - This pasta can be just as flavorful without the addition of shrimp. So try it with just the cheese sauce, I guarantee you will enjoy it.
- Scallops - My new favorite seafood. Pan-seared scallops are great in this dish
- Pancetta - Crispy pancetta added to the pasta and creamy parm sauce makes for a heavenly dinner.
Variations
The beauty of recipes like this one is that they can become a quick base for many other variations.
- Spicy - Sprinkle cajun seasoning instead of nutmeg for a spicy Southern twist. Blacken the shrimp too!
- Pesto - When pan-searing the shrimp, toss a tablespoon of pesto or toss the shrimp in pesto after pan-searing to incorporate the flavor. Then when you add the garlic, add pesto to turn this creamy sauce into a bright summery meal.
- Sundried Tomatoes and Spinach- In a processor blend sundried tomatoes, garlic, and parm. Add a tablespoon of the mixture to the shrimp and the rest to the sauce. just before service toss in a couple of handfuls of julienne spinach for added fiber and flavor.
Not quite a variation but substitute Palmini for the pasta in my Pomodoro sauce, molto bene!
Equipment
Essentially it is a one-pot meal since there is no need for pasta water. For grating cheese, you can either use an attachment for your immersion blender. a hand-held grater
Storage
One bag of pasta fed me and my husband. Now, remember, we are on Keto and intermittent fasting so we have one large meal and a few snacks in an eight to ten-hour window.
In the event, there were leftovers, place them in a shallow pan, cover, and refrigerate. it will keep for 2-3 days.
Top tip
Two words, quality shrimp. I bought Argentinian 16/20 shrimp. They have a red shell, and the meat is plump and tender. These shrimp make every bite worth their price. If Argentinian shrimp are not available buy from a reputable source.
Recipe
Low-Carb Linguini In a Creamy Parmesan Sauce with Pan-Seared Shrimp
Ingredients
- One pouch or can of Palmini Linguine Pasta
- One pound of 16/20 shrimp
- ¼ cup of Heavy whipping cream
- 2 ounces of Parmesan cheese
- 2 Fresh garlic cloves grated
- Bay leaf
- Salt and Pepper to taste
- A dash of Nutmeg
- A pinch of Red Pepper Flakes for garnish
Instructions
- If your shrimp is not clean, shell and devein the shrimp. Give the shrimp a quick rinse to allow any transparent shells or particles to come to the top and flush away. Set aside.
- Open Palmini and pour into a colander. allow water to run and rinse the pasta from any excess salt. Remember it is hearts of palms, so it is a pickled product.
- Remove the rind of the parmesan cheese and set it aside. Grate about 2 ounces of Parmesan cheese and set aside. Mince the garlic and set aside a separate dish.
- Pour a small amount of olive oil and about a tablespoon of butter into a large pan. Once hot, add the shrimp with a pinch of salt and pepper. We are not cooking the shrimp all the way through, just enough to render flavor from them.
- Remove shrimp and add the cream, rind, a dash of nutmeg, and bay leaf: bring to a simmer and cook for 7-8 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until reduced by one-half.
- Add garlic, or use adobo paste if desired. Pour about a quarter cup of white cabernet savignon. Let the pasta cook for about 5 minutes and the sauce reduces in volume.
- Remove rind. Add shrimp, and cook for about 2-3 minutes or until shrimp are firm but not hard. Remove from the heat.
- Fold in grated cheese and pepper until blended.
- Place in a pasta bowl and garnish with parsley, red pepper flakes, and more parmesan cheese. Buen Provecho!
Notes
Food safety
One of the differences between cooking at a restaurant and cooking at home is the attention to safety. Maybe we do not need to be as diligent as restaurants, it is not like our personal kitchens will be shut down, but we can avoid some common food poisoning episodes if we practice a few food safety rules. We sometimes take for a granted that we have years (or decades) of cooking experience, that the average visitor may not. Add to, or remove from, the list below with health and safety tips.
- Cook the shrimp to a minimum temperature of 120°F (74 °C)
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
- Wash hands after touching raw meat, and after!
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended. This is more of a general safety than controlling time and temperature.
- Use oils with a high smoke point to avoid harmful compounds
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
Nila Smith says
thank you for trying this pasta. I have heard of it. you did a great job with adding videos. me gustó ése toque para la receta.
Zoe Morman says
Thank you, Nila! Yes, sometimes I shoot only videos, and sometimes only photos. I am playing with what is best for you guys to visualize the process. Thank you for the feedback!