Shrimp is one of my favorite sources of protein. It is healthy, light, and cooks quickly. Plus, it is versatile in ways that you can flavor it. One of my new favorites (and my family’s new favorites) is cajun shrimp. Because I made it for family dinner, I had to make sure there were versions for both the lighter eaters and the carb needers! So, here is my easy cajun shrimp recipe 2 ways: pasta + cauliflower rice.
The first version of the Cajun shrimp recipe is the easier of the two to make: cajun shrimp cauliflower rice. Because shrimp and cauliflower are both lower-calorie foods, it is definitely a light meal. If you have never tried cauliflower rice before, this is a great recipe to start! You won’t even realize how much it increases your veggie intake. And when the cauliflower rice is paired with a bite of shrimp, the Cajun flavors take over. For this reason, I would recommend having a little bite of shrimp with each cauliflower rice bite!
The second version of the Cajun shrimp recipe is for our carb lovers – cajun shrimp pasta. This isn’t your typical heavy and high-calorie pasta dish – it is light and healthy as well! With a base of protein pasta, mixed in veggies, and an olive oil lemon sauce, this dish is tasty and good for you.
Which version will you choose? Or will you make both like I did to satisfy all cravings? Read below for the cajun shrimp recipe followed by the cauliflower rice and veggie protein pasta recipe for your base of preference.
Cajun Shrimp Recipe (use for both)
Ingredients:
- 2 lbs raw shrimp, peeled and deveined, thawed
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- ½ tsp minced garlic
- 1.5 tbsp cajun seasoning
Instructions:
If your shrimp is not completely thawed, run it under cold water until thawed. Then, sprinkle the 1.5 tbsp of cajun seasoning on top of it and mix well with a spoon. Next, take out a large frying pan and heat the 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil over medium-low heat. Add 1/2 teaspoon of minced garlic and sauté in the olive oil for one minute, stirring half way through.
Turn the heat up to medium and add the seasoned shrimp into the pan with the sautéed garlic. If the pan is dry, drizzle a little extra olive oil to make sure the garlic does not burn. Cook the shrimp for 6-7 minutes or until pink, stirring occasionally to ensure even cooking on both sides. Remove the pan from the heat and keep warm until your base of pasta or cauliflower rice is ready.
Cauliflower Rice Instructions
While you can make cauliflower rice homemade if you would like, I prefer to buy it already made. I chose to buy Wegmans Organic Riced Cauliflower from the frozen section which has cauliflower and sea salt as the only 2 ingredients. But, you can also find a version of cauliflower rice by Bird’s Eye, Green Giant, or your local grocery store brand. While I chose a plain version, don’t be afraid to be creative with various flavors available. Next time I make this recipe, I might try the Wegmans Mexican Style Riced Cauliflower to add extra flavor.
With the Wegmans Organic Riced Cauloflower, I followed the stove-top directions on the back of the bag. This took about 15 minutes total from bringing the water to a boil to putting the finished cauliflower rice in a bowl. Once you fill a bowl with the cauliflower rice, top with the cajuin shrimp.
Veggie Protein Pasta Recipe
Ingredients:
- One 14.5 oz box Barilla Protein+ Spaghetti
- 12 oz spaghetti cut vegetable blend (Mine included zucchini, yellow squash, red onions, red bell pepper, and carrots. You can customize to include the vegetables you like or what your store sells as a prepared mix!)
- 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tsp cajun seasoning
- Juice of 1/2 lemon
- Salt, pepper, + garlic powder to taste
Instructions:
Remove the shrimp from the pan, leaving the sauce in the pan to use for your next step. Add 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil to the pan and turn on medium heat. Add the thinly sliced blend of vegetables and mix with the sauce. Sprinkle with 1 tsp cajun seasoning, mixing well with the vegetables. Cook the vegetables on medium heat, stirring occasionally, until tender or for about 12 minutes.
While the vegetables are cooking, bring salted water to a boil for your protein spaghetti. Cook according to the instructions on the box. Strain when done, and mix in with your cooked vegetables. Add an additional 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil and squeeze the juice of 1/2 of one lemon over the pasta. Season to taste with salt, pepper, and garlic powder and mix well. Top with your cajun shrimp in a bowl.