Creamy Tuscan Shrimp Recipe
Creamy Tuscan Shrimp is a luscious and flavorful dish featuring tender shrimp simmered in a rich, garlicky cream sauce infused with sun-dried tomatoes, parmesan cheese, cherry tomatoes, and fresh spinach. This quick and easy recipe combines classic Tuscan flavors with a luscious creamy texture, making it perfect for a weeknight dinner or an impressive meal for guests.
- Author: rami
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Tuscan/Italian
- Diet: Low Lactose
Shrimp
- 1 pound large shrimp, raw, deveined, tail removed
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
Sauce & Vegetables
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 small shallot, diced (about ¼ cup)
- ¼ cup sun-dried tomatoes, softened and chopped (about 4–5 whole)
- 1 teaspoon all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
- 1 cup (238 g) heavy whipping cream, room temperature
- ¼ cup (25 g) parmesan cheese, grated (plus more for garnish)
- 1 cup (149 g) cherry tomatoes, halved
- 2 cups (60 g) baby spinach
- Parsley, chopped for garnish
- Salt, to taste
- Season the Shrimp: Season the raw, deveined shrimp evenly with 1 teaspoon kosher salt and ½ teaspoon black pepper to enhance their natural flavor.
- Cook the Shrimp: Heat 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the shrimp and cook for about 2-3 minutes on each side until they turn pink and opaque. Remove the shrimp from the skillet and set aside on a plate, tented to keep warm.
- Melt Butter and Cook Shallots & Sun-dried Tomatoes: Reduce the heat to medium, add 2 tablespoons unsalted butter to the same skillet. When melted, add the diced shallots and chopped sun-dried tomatoes. Sauté for 2-4 minutes or until the shallots become softened.
- Add Garlic and Flour: Stir in the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute until fragrant. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon all-purpose flour over the mixture and stir well to combine, which will help thicken the sauce.
- Add Cream, Parmesan, and Cherry Tomatoes: Pour in 1 cup of heavy whipping cream and add ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese along with the halved cherry tomatoes. Stir everything together, scraping up any browned bits from the skillet to incorporate maximum flavor.
- Simmer the Sauce: Lower the heat to low and let the sauce simmer gently for 3-4 minutes until the cheese melts completely and the sauce thickens slightly.
- Wilt the Spinach: Add 2 cups of baby spinach to the sauce and stir to combine. Cook for 2-3 minutes until the spinach wilts and blends into the creamy sauce.
- Combine Shrimp with Sauce and Serve: Return the cooked shrimp to the skillet, allowing them to warm in the creamy Tuscan sauce. Serve immediately, garnished with chopped parsley and extra parmesan cheese as desired.
Notes
- You can substitute heavy cream with half-and-half for a lighter sauce, but the sauce will be less rich and creamy.
- For added heat, sprinkle some red pepper flakes when sautéing garlic.
- Ensure shrimp are not overcooked to maintain a tender texture.
- This dish pairs excellently with pasta, rice, or crusty bread to soak up the sauce.
- Sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil can be used instead of dried; just drain them well before chopping.
- Use freshly grated parmesan cheese for optimal flavor and melting texture.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe (about 1/4 pound shrimp with sauce)
- Calories: 410 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 620 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 220 mg
Keywords: Tuscan shrimp, creamy shrimp recipe, garlic cream sauce, sun-dried tomato shrimp, easy dinner, Italian shrimp dish