Trottole Pasta Recipe with Tomato Sauce and Shrimp

5 from 2 reviews

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This Trottole Pasta Recipe with Tomato Sauce and Shrimp is a 30 minute meal you need to try! Top this red sauce and shrimp pasta with a touch of fresh basil and parsley to make it a weeknight favorite.

Why I love this recipe

This is a delicious recipe that is super easy to make and tastes like an Italian restaurant. It works as a main dish since it includes shrimp. All you need is a simple salad and crusty Italian bread!

Trottole Pasta Recipe with Tomato Sauce and Shrimp in red enamel pan
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Trottole Pasta Recipe with Tomato Sauce and Shrimp

Italian cuisine is known for its simple ingredients and bold flavors. This pasta recipe checks all the boxes with simplicity and superb taste. This is a loved recipe we often make in my Italian kitchen (cucina)! This is one of my absolute favorite easy recipes.

If you love shrimp, try these recipes: Shrimp Scampi Pasta Recipe (with Fettuccine) Orzo Pasta with Shrimp, Sun-dried Tomatoes, and Artichokes and Shrimp and Broccoli Pasta in Cream Sauce, and Squid Ink Pasta Recipe with Shrimp and Cherry Tomato Sauce.

Ingredients for Trottole Pasta with tomato sauce and shrimp

You can make this restaurant-worthy pasta dish with a few pantry staples and fresh ingredients.

ingredient shot for recipe

See the recipe card for quantities.

How to make Trottole pasta with tomato sauce and shrimp (step by step)

This recipe is so easy to make. If you make the tomato sauce ahead of time all you have to do it cook the shrimp and pasta at the last minute and there you have an easy dinner with little effort.

seasoned shrimp before cooking

First, make your classic Italian tomato sauce in a large skillet. Set aside and keep warm.

Prepare shrimp, dry them with a paper towel, and season with salt and pepper to taste.

shrimp cooking in garlic and wine

Second, in a large frying pan on medium heat- gently fry the shrimp with garlic and olive oil and red chili flakes. Add the white wine deglaze pan. Let simmer a couple of minutes longer.

cooking pasta al dente

Cook your pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water. Cook pasta until al dente package directions. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta cooking water before draining.

sauce, shrimp and pasta combined

Lastly, drain pasta and add to the prepared sauce. Add reserved pasta water and toss to combine. Add shrimp and stir again. Garnish with fresh basil and parsley. Serve hot!

Tools: Here is the pasta utensil I use for all my pasta recipes and more!

Trottole Pasta Recipe with Tomato Sauce and Shrimp in red enamel pan bread on the side.

How to cook shrimp in tomato sauce

For this recipe, we want to cook the shrimp perfectly as they are the main part of the sauce. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:

  • Dry- make sure to pat the shrimp dry, so they get a nice sear and stay tender when they finish cooking in the sauce.
  • Season- sprinkle shrimp with salt and pepper before searing them to get the flavor in them right away.
  • Sear- searing the shrimp first gives them a nice crust to keep tender throughout the rest of the cooking process.
  • Deglaze- adding white wine to the pan helps all the delicious garlic and chili flake seasoning infuse into the tomato sauce.
  • Sauce- let the shrimp finish cooking, at a simmer, in the tomato sauce as the flavors really marry and come together for the final dish!

Where to buy trotolle

I am lucky to find my trottole pasta at my local grocery store in Salt Lake City, Utah. If you have trouble finding it, get it delivered through Amazon! I love to say “trottole”- make sure to roll that “r” for the real Italian pronunciation.

More sauces that pair well with Italian trotolle pasta: use ground beef to make ragu, or beef short ribs for bolognese sauce. Use this Easy Italian Sausage and Peppers Recipe (Skillet) to add with the pasta for an easy meal.

Read this article about pairing pasta shapes with sauces.

Substitutions for trottole pasta and shrimp

Use these substitutions to meet your dietary needs.

  • Gluten Free- use gluten free pasta instead of wheat.
  • Vegetarian – swap the shrimp for firm tofu.
Trottole Pasta Recipe with Tomato Sauce and Shrimp in red enamel pan with bowl of pasta on side.

Variations

After trying the original recipe the first time you can try these variations to mix it up and see how you like it!

  • Herbs- add aromatic herbs such as thyme and oregano for an extra flavor boost.
  • Creamy- change it up and swap the red sauce for white sauce or homemade béchamel sauce.
  • Cheesy- in Italy we do not serve red sauce and seafood with cheese. If you like add some parmigiano cheese (parmesan cheese). Even try a little feta cheese!
  • Easy– if you are short on time you can even use your favorite pre-made jar marinara sauce.
  • Onion- add a half of a chopped yellow or red onion for variety.
  • Deluxe – add cooked Italian sausages to this recipe to add more protein.
  • Kid friendly – leave out the chili flakes to cut the spice or adjust accordingly for little eaters.

If you love seafood try these recipes: Spaghetti Frutti di Mare (Seafood Pasta), Italian Seafood Salad (Insalata di Mare Antipasto), Lobster Rolls, and BEST Seared Scallops with Lemon Butter Sauce.

bowl ofTrottole Pasta Recipe with Tomato Sauce and Shrimp.

How to store leftover pasta

After pasta cools store in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-5 days.

Here are a few airtight containers that work well for storing leftover pasta dishes, and more: Pyrex different sizes, Snapware different sizes, Glasslock oven safe, and Rubbermaid Takealongs.

Trottole pasta FAQ’s

What can I use instead of trottole pasta?

If you don’t have trotolle pasta shape on hand you can use penne pasta, fusilli, cavatappi, or even rigatoni. These are great alternatives to trottole pasta- the “spinning top shape”.

Trotolle pasta meaning. What does “trotolle” mean in Italian?

In Italian “trotolle” means- spinning tops. This type of drum wheat pasta resembles spinning tops. Trotolle pasta are fun to make and eat. Try this Trottole Pasta Recipe with Tomato Sauce and Shrimp and see!

Top tips

  • It is a good thing to keep in mind the pasta and shrimp will cook a little bit more once incorporated with the hot sauce. Do not overcook pasta or shrimp!
  • Dry the shrimp so they get a nice sear in the skillet. Skipping this step could result in the shrimp steaming in the pan.

More recipes for you:

bowl of Trottole Pasta Recipe with Tomato Sauce and Shrimp.

Enjoy this easy and absolutely scrumptious trottole pasta and shrimp meal.

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Trottole Pasta Recipe with Tomato Sauce and Shrimp in red enamel pan

Trottole Pasta Recipe with Tomato Sauce and Shrimp


5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

5 from 2 reviews

  • Author: Elena
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 46 servings 1x

Description

This Trottole Pasta Recipe with Tomato Sauce and Shrimp is a 30 minute meal you need to try! Top this red sauce and shrimp pasta with fresh basil and a touch of red pepper flakes and make it a weeknight favorite.


Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 1 recipe for Classic Italian Tomato Sauce (Sugo al Pomodoro)
  • 1 pound shrimp, cleaned and deveined
  • 1 pound Trottole pasta (or pasta of choice)
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/4 cup white wine
  • 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1 tablespoon fresh basil, chopped for garnish
  • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped for garnish
  • Salt and Pepper to taste
  • Optional: parmigiano or parmesan cheese for serving

Instructions

  1. Make your classic Italian tomato sauce in a large skillet. Set aside and keep warm.
  2. Prepare shrimp, dry them with a paper towel, and season with salt and pepper to taste.
  3. In a large frying pan on medium heat- gently fry the shrimp with garlic and olive oil and red chili flakes. Add the white wine and deglaze pan. Let simmer a couple of minutes longer.
  4. Cook pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water. Cook pasta until al dente package directions. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta cooking water before draining.
  5. Drain pasta and add to prepared sauce. Add pasta water and toss to combine. Add shrimp and stir again. Garnish with fresh basil and parsley. Serve hot!

Notes

Top tips

  • It is a good thing to keep in mind the pasta and shrimp will cook a little bit more once incorporated with the hot sauce. Do not overcook pasta or shrimp!
  • Dry the shrimp so they get a nice sear in the skillet. Skipping this step could result in the shrimp steaming in the pan.

  • Prep Time: 10 min
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Category: Savory
  • Method: Italian
  • Cuisine: Italian

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About Elena

My dream is to share delicious wholesome recipes that you will share around the table with all your loved ones. The memories surrounded by food are the heart and soul of CucinaByElena.

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2 Comments

  1. We made this twice last week. Once for the family and another time for guests. It got 5 stars from everyone both times! Enjoy.