Spaghettini with Shrimp, Tomatoes and Chile Crumbs

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Dan Kluger adds crunch to this delicious shrimp and summer tomato pasta with crisp lemon-chile crumbs. Slideshow:  More Delicious Recipes Featuring Summer Produce 

Spaghettini with Shrimp, Tomatoes and Chile Crumbs
Photo: © Con Poulos
Total Time:
45 mins
Yield:
4

Ingredients

  • 2 large plum tomatoes (about 1 1/4 pounds), cored and scored on the bottoms with an X

  • 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar

  • 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

  • Salt

  • Freshly ground pepper

  • 1 cup coarse, dried sourdough bread crumbs (about 2 ounces)

  • 1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest

  • Crushed red pepper

  • 12 ounces spaghettini

  • 1 pound medium shrimp, shelled and deveined

  • 2 tablespoons finely shredded basil

  • 1/2 pound heirloom cherry tomatoes, halved

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 450°. Put the plum tomatoes in a small baking dish and drizzle with the vinegar and 2 tablespoons of the olive oil. Roast for about 20 minutes, just until the skins loosen and the tomatoes are barely softened. Let cool slightly, then peel the tomatoes. Using the large holes on a box grater, grate the tomatoes back into the baking dish and stir. Season with salt and pepper.

  2. Meanwhile, heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a large skillet. Add the bread crumbs and cook over moderately low heat, stirring, until golden and crisp, about 5 minutes. Stir in the lemon zest and a pinch of crushed red pepper and season with salt. Transfer the crumbs to a bowl and wipe out the skillet.

  3. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the pasta until barely al dente. Drain the pasta, reserving 1/2 cup of the cooking water. Return the pasta to the pot and stir in 2 tablespoons of the olive oil.

  4. In the large skillet, heat the remaining 3 tablespoons of oil until shimmering. Season the shrimp with salt and a pinch of crushed red pepper and cook over high heat, tossing once or twice, until barely cooked, about 1 1/2 minutes. Add the basil and pasta along with the reserved pasta cooking water and cook, tossing, until the shrimp are white throughout and the pasta is coated in a light sauce, about 1 minute. Transfer the pasta to bowls and scatter the cherry tomatoes all around. Top with the tomato sauce and bread crumbs. Serve right away.

Make Ahead

The tomato sauce and bread crumbs can be prepared up to 2 days ahead. Refrigerate the tomato sauce and store the bread crumbs in an airtight container at room temperature.

Suggested Pairing

Brightly acidic tomatoes go best with lively white wines without oak. Look for Chardonnay aged in stainless steel.

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