Zesty Shrimp & Bucatini Pasta with Bell Pepper

Step 1

1 Prepare the ingredients Fill a large pot 3/4 of the way up with salted water; cover and heat to boiling on high. Wash and dry the fresh produce. Cut off and discard the stem of the pepper. Quarter lengthwise; remove the ribs and seeds, then thinly slice crosswise. Peel and roughly chop 2 cloves of garlic. Thinly slice the scallions, separating the white bottoms and hollow green tops.

Step 2

2 Cook the pepper In a medium pan (nonstick, if you have one), heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the sliced pepper, chopped garlic, and sliced white bottoms of the scallions; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, 3 to 4 minutes, or until slightly softened. Turn off the heat. Transfer to a bowl and cover with foil to keep warm. Wipe out the pan.

Step 3

3 Cook the pasta Meanwhile, add the pasta to the pot of boiling water and cook 6 to 8 minutes, or until al dente (still slightly firm to the bite). Turn off the heat. Reserving 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water, drain thoroughly and return to the pot.

Step 4

4 Cook the shrimp & make the sauce Pat the shrimp dry with paper towels (remove the tails, if desired). In the same pan, heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the shrimp in an even layer. Cook, without stirring, 2 to 3 minutes, or until slightly opaque. Add the tomato paste and as much of the gochujang as you’d like, depending on how spicy you’d like the dish to be. Cook, stirring frequently, 30 seconds to 1 minute, or until thoroughly combined. Add the verjus (carefully, as the liquid may splatter) and cream; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, 30 seconds to 1 minute, or until the shrimp are coated and cooked through. Turn off the heat.

Step 5

5 Finish the pasta & serve your dish To the pot of cooked pasta, add the cooked shrimp and sauce, cooked pepper, and half the reserved pasta cooking water; season with salt and pepper. Cook on medium-high, stirring constantly, 1 to 2 minutes, or until the pasta is coated (if necessary, gradually add the remaining cooking water to ensure the pasta is thoroughly coated).Turn off the heat. Taste, then season with salt and pepper if desired. Serve the finished pasta garnished with the sliced green tops of the scallions. Enjoy!