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I was all in the last time there was a Marry Me recipe, but this time the pressure is off. Yes, Marry Me Shrimp Pasta is romantic plate of succulent pink prawns resting on a soft bed of linguine drenched in sun-dried tomato and cream sauce, but who says you can’t be single and live happily ever after too?
And for the staunchly marriage averse, Tuscan salmon with Parmesan cream sauce shares all the recipe’s ingredients but swapping out muscular shrimp for delicate, flakey pink fish. And not a hint of matrimony on the menu.
Marry me pasta
Once upon a time there was a single Princess who worked for an online cooking magazine. One day she put together a chicken and pasta dish so fragrant and delicious that a passing video producer Prince could not resist stopping in her kitchen.
On first bite of the mouthwatering meal, he immediately bent down on one knee and asked her to marry him. The end. Kind of.
And that is the story of how a traditional Tuscan chicken recipe became known to the TikTok generation as Marry Me Chicken. After the romantic revelation went viral, hundreds of hopefuls took to their kitchens armed with sun-dried tomatoes and the lucky recipe aiming to provoke a much-desired marriage proposal.
So, what is the secret? Chicken or shrimp with cream is nothing new, but the Marry Me sauce has a dose of smoky get-on-with-it paprika and (optional) right-now chilli. Giving this recipe, and the intended proposer, a fiery kick up the a**.
Recipe Tips and Notes
- If chicken breast failed you the first time around, shrimp is here to give you another roll of the dice.
- And if it comes to it, fall back on scallops for lucky number 3. Whichever you choose, chicken breast, shrimp or scallops, they are all perfect partners for this rose-tinged, velvety cream sauce.
- Semi-dried or sun-blushed tomatoes are milder in flavour and more tender textured than sun-dried. Feel free to substitute if you prefer.
- The oil preserving the sun-dried tomatoes is an ingredient in itself- don’t waste it. I use a tablespoon to cook the shrimp in. Keep the remainder of the jar as it can be used as a cooking oil in so many other recipes.
- If you’re new here, I’ll hop on my soapbox again! Go freshly grated This is an affiliate link.Parmesan or go home! The pre-grated stuff has a fraction of the flavour and will turn your silky-smooth sauce claggy. I beg you not to sabotage!
- Shrimp is traditionally served with long pasta like This is an affiliate link.linguine, This is an affiliate link.spaghetti or tagliatelle. If you prefer a shorter, sturdier pasta shape, who am I to stand in your way?
Serving suggestions
Whether this shrimp linguine comes with a side of motive or not, it is still a special treat. So, pull out all the stops with a three-course, Italian-inspired banquet:
I’d begin with a low-prep Italian charcuterie platter and a no-knead focaccia studded with garlic and served with olive oil for dipping.
To accompany the main course and staying true to Tuscany, either broccoli with sun-dried tomatoes, garlic and chillies or a cool panzanella salad.
And to finish up no-churn ice cream. Amarena gelato is a beautifully fruity, rippled cherry pink ice cream, or authentic easy pistachio.
Storage and leftovers
Unctuous and slurp-worthy, this dreams-come-true marry me pasta dish is at its best freshly served. However, any leftovers can be kept in an This is an affiliate link.airtight container or covered in the fridge for up to 2 days. Reheat on the stovetop, and don’t share, for a truly happy ending.
More creamy pasta sauces to try
- Pasta Cream Sauce
- Easy Chicken in Sun-Dried Tomato Sauce
- Tortelloni with Creamy Tomato Sauce and Spinach
- Sausage Gnocchi in Romesco Sauce
Marry Me Shrimp
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp This is an affiliate link.olive oil
- 500g/1 lbs raw shrimp (prawns)
- Salt and pepper
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1/2 tsp spicy smoked paprika
- 5-6 basil leaves, sliced
- 4-5 This is an affiliate link.sun-dried tomatoes, packed in oil, sliced or semi-dried (sun-blushed) tomatoes
- 1 tbsp flour
- 125ml / 1/2 cup dry white wine, such as Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc
- 250ml / 1 cup This is an affiliate link.chicken stock
- 125ml / 1/2 cup double / heavy cream
- 50g / 1/2 cup This is an affiliate link.Parmesan cheese
- 300g/10oz This is an affiliate link.linguine
Instructions
- Start by boiling the water for the pasta. Once boiled, season with salt and cook the pasta in it according to package instructions.
- While the pasta is cooking, season the shrimp with salt, heat 1 tbsp olive oil and 1 tbsp oil from the sun-dried tomatoes in a frying pan, then saute the shrimp over medium high heat for 1 minute on each side. Remove the shrimp to a plate until later.
- To the same pan add the garlic, sliced sun-dried tomatoes and smoked paprika, sauté for about 30 seconds over very low heat. Sprinkle with flour and stir, so the flour combines with the fat creating a paste, cook it for about a minute, then deglaze the pan with the white wine and let it simmer for about 5 minutes until the liquid is reduced by a half.
- Add the chicken stock, sliced basil leaves, heavy cream and grated Parmesan cheese, stir until the cheese is incorporated into the sauce, cover with a lid and let the sauce simmer over medium heat for 5 minutes, then bring the shrimp back to the pan and simmer for a couple of minutes longer, taste and add more salt if needed.
- Drain the pasta and add to the sauce, toss to combine, season with salt to taste.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
