Shrimp & Asparagus Herb Pasta — Recipe of the Week

This week’s free recipe is Shrimp & Asparagus Herb Pasta — a real household dinner you can cook tonight, then plan the rest of the week around.

Savor the flavors of shrimp and asparagus in this Italian-inspired pasta dish. Enhanced with a blend of herbs and Parmesan, it's a quick and delicious meal.

Most weeknights fail at 5pm because dinner is still a question. A recipe like this works when it is already on the calendar, the shopping list is already built, and you are not inventing a second meal tomorrow from whatever is left in the fridge.

30 min · 4 servings

Ingredients

• 1 ¼ pounds Shrimp
• ¾ bunch of Asparagus
• 4 cloves of Garlic
• 1 pound Mushrooms (Brown)
• 2 Roma Tomatoes
• 8 ounces Pasta (Spaghetti)
• ½ cup + 2 tablespoons Parmesan Cheese
• 1 cup Chicken Broth/Stock
• 2 teaspoons Basil (Dry)
• 2 teaspoons Oregano (Dry)
• 2 teaspoons Parsley (Dry)
• 2 teaspoons Red Pepper Flakes
• 2 teaspoons Thyme (Dry)
• ½ cup Olive Oil
• 2 teaspoons Salt

Directions

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add ½ pound of spaghetti and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
2. While the pasta cooks, heat ½ cup of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 1 ¼ pounds of shrimp and ¾ pound of asparagus, sautéing until the shrimp turn pink, about 3-4 minutes. Tip: Pat the shrimp dry before cooking to ensure they sear nicely.
3. Add 1 ½ tablespoons of minced garlic to the skillet and cook for an additional minute, stirring frequently to prevent burning.
4. Stir in 1 pound of sliced brown mushrooms, 1 cup of chicken broth, 2 of diced Roma tomato, 2 teaspoons of salt, and 2 teaspoons of red pepper flakes. Simmer uncovered for 2 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld.
5. Drain the cooked pasta and add it to the skillet along with the reserved pasta water. Toss to combine and coat the pasta evenly with the sauce.
6. Sprinkle in 2 teaspoons each of dry basil, parsley, thyme, and oregano, mixing well to distribute the herbs evenly throughout the dish.
7. Remove the skillet from heat and sprinkle ½ cup of grated Parmesan cheese over the top. Serve immediately, garnished with additional herbs if desired. Tip: For a creamier texture, you can stir in a bit of the pasta water or extra cheese.

Plan the rest of the week

One good dinner is a start. The habit that sticks is seven dinners on one calendar, a shopping list from those meals, and a household that can see what’s cooking.

Save this recipe, pick six more you already cook, and plan this week free with myDinnerPlan. No credit card. Setup takes a few minutes.

If you cook this, note what you swapped. Next week’s public recipe will be a different household dinner from the same library.