Pasta with Roasted Garlic, Shrimp & Feta

Our good friends came to visit a few weeks ago and brought this recipe with them. We all love shrimp so you can't go wrong with this recipe in our household. It was a great, light-tasting meal. We served it with some grilled asparagus and had a great time. 

• 2 1/2 Tbsp olive oil
• 6 garlic cloves, peeled
• salt and pepper
• 8 oz medium-large shrimp (31 to 40 per pound), peeled, deveined, and tails removed
• 6 oz (2 cups) pasta
• 1 1/2 oz (1/3 cup) feta cheese, crumbled
• 1/3 cup chopped fresh basil

Adjust oven rack to upper-middle position and heat oven to 425 degrees. Combine oil, garlic, 1/8 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper in small baking dish and cover with foil. Bake, stirring occasionally, until garlic is caramelized and soft, about 20 minutes. Let cool slightly, then mash garlic and oil into paste with fork. Stir in shrimp and continue to bake, uncovered, until shrimp are opaque throughout, about 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, bring 4 quarts water to boil in large pot. Add pasta and 1 Tbsp salt and cook, stirring often, until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup cooking water, then drain pasta and return it to pot. Add shrimp mixture, feta and basil and toss to combine. Season with salt and pepper to taste and adjust consistency with reserved cooking water as needed. 

NOTES: according to my friend, you want to use fresh garlic, not the frozen, pre-minced kind. That way the garlic doesn't burn and has a little different flavor.

Serves 2
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes

Recipe from the kitchen of Austin and Melissa Oakes