The Secret Recipe Club challenge is a great way to meet new bloggers. This month, I got to read more about Carrie who blogs over at Carrie’s Sweet Life. Carrie has just become a mum for the second time – congratulations! Their dog Peanut is too cute as well and could be a sister to our two Jack Russells who look so similar. This month I did not have time to waste as we only got back from Scotland on the 7th of May and that meant finding a recipe, shopping for it, making it and blogging about it in 2 weeks. I have to admit that I took the easy way out to make sure I could take part in this month’s challenge and I used the search function on the blog (which worked brilliantly) and entered pasta. It has been so long since I have taken part in Presto Pasta Nights that I decided to kill two birds with one stone so to say. The recipe I chose was Lemon Garlic Linguine with Mascarpone and Shrimp.
This is where things got challenging. On the 8th of May I printed the recipe, and attached it to my fridge. Due to a writing deadline on the 15th of May, I did not look at the recipe until the 18th. Early in the morning I read through the ingredient list and added what I needed to my shopping list. I got home after work and took some very large prawns out of the freezer. I had invited my friend Erica for dinner and as she was running late, I decided to get everything ready so that we could eat shortly after she arrived. It was then that I realized that some of the ingredients did not feature in the recipe method. This meant guessing where they were meant to be added, if at all. Even more difficult was that in the method there was mention of several ingredients that weren’t on the ingredient list, and so with no measurements I had to improvise. I could not add the chives which were in the method part of the recipe, as by the time I started cooking it was dark and raining and I did not feel like going to the herb garden. This would have added some colour to the plate which would have made for a prettier picture. However, despite all these issues, the meal got a thumbs up, which was a great result.
© Lemon Garlic Linguine with Mascarpone and Prawns
Ingredients:
- 300g dried linguini
- 500g prawns, cleaned, peeled and heads removed (do not discard the heads)
- Zest of 1 lemon
- ¼ teaspoon salt flakes
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 30g butter
- 1 shallot, thinly sliced
- 2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
- ¼ teaspoon dried chilli flakes
- 60mls chicken stock
- 60mls white wine
- Juice of half a lemon
- 60mls mascarpone cheese
Method:
- Cook your pasta as per the packet instructions and reserve half a cup of the cooking water
- Pat the prawns dry and toss with half the lemon zest, the salt, and the pepper
- In a large frying pan over a medium-high heat, melt the butter until the foaming subsides
- Add the shallot, garlic, and chilli flakes and sauté until the onions are soft
- Remove and set aside without discarding the butter
- Cook the prawn heads until well coloured and remove
- Deglaze the pan with the stock and reduce by half
- Return the onion mix to the pan with the prawn tails and cook for 90 seconds
- Turn the prawns and add the wine and the lemon juice
- Add the mascarpone and bring to the boil
- Remove the prawns from the pan to ensure they don’t overcook
- Add the pasta and toss well to coat with the sauce
- If the sauce needs thinning out, add some or all of the reserved pasta water (a tablespoon at a time)
- Adjust the seasoning, add the rest of the lemon zest and the prawns and serve straight away
I am submitting this recipe to Presto Pasta Nights, which is being hosted this week by Rachel, The Crispy Cook
Tandy
To see other recipes from the
click the linky below:
Hi there. Food on Friday: Lemons and Limes is now open for entries. This looks like a neat one! I do hope you link it in. This is the link . Cheers
I emailed the challenge to myself early this morning – not sure which dish I am going to link, but this one does seem good!
Looks amazing! I am soooo wishing hubby wasn’t allergic to prawns right now
Guess I could make with chicken, but it just won’t be the same. Those prawns are drool worthy!! 
Great choice for SRC!
that is so sad he is allergic to prawns, but I have a comment below that mentions using scallops, which I think would be great, or even clams
Great choice! I’ll use scallops instead of shrimp (allergy) and be the star at dinner next week C:
scallops sound divine! We don’t get them here but I am sure they will be perfect
I think you might be about to convert me to start enjoying my kitchen. I’m going to try and cook one new recipe a month!
I am so glad I can inspire you! If you try a recipe of mine, please let me know how it worked out
will do
Terrific dish! I love every single ingredient in there. Thanks for sending it over to Presto Pasta Nights this week.
It is a great recipe to share
It’s only breakfast time, but I’m drooling for this. I love how you made it work even missing ingredients & instructions. Now to see what I have on hand to whip up something similar. Thanks for sharing with Presto Pasta Nights.
I hope you find all the ingredients in your pantry Ruth
The picture looks good enough to eat! And I also avoid my herb patch when it’s dark and wet outside
One of my pet hates is a recipe with ingredients in the method that don’t feature in the igredient lists
you did a brilliant job anyway, T! It looks quite delicious! xx Linda
Thanks Linda – I have left out an ingredient once in a recipe, so I can relate – but since then I have learnt how important it is to triple check everything! Have a super day xox
This sounds amazing! I have never made prawns but man do they look delish! I love the mascarpone addition. I had your blog for SRC this month… I made your bechamel sauce! Thanks for a great basic sauce recipe that I can use in so many things
HI Desi, I loved your post on my recipe! And thanks for the visit
This looks delicious. When you said that you didn’t feel like going to the herb garden I could so relate. Some days are like that and it is good to tell ourselves that it’s okay!
for sure, it is always OK in my opinion to skip doing something
What a pity about the incomplete recipe ingredients and method. Fantastic result – it has been forever since we had prawns – time to remedy that!
Mandy
I have half a box left over waiting ….
You start realising the difference between great recipes and not so great when you actually start to make them and how clear the instructions are! Well done for producing such a lovely looking meal
thank you so much Claire
I love lemony pasta sauces and the mascarpone makes it so decadent! great dish.
thanks Joanne – the lemon really made this dish
Another superb past recipe to add to my collection. Thanks so much, Tandy.
xxx
my pleasure AD
This dish was really lovely, the prawns were super fresh and the use of linguine was spot on. Will eat this one again without hesitation, thanks so much for sharing Tandy!
thank you for joining us for dinner
Mascarpone, prawns, pasta….love. Nice choice for SRC!
thanks so much!
Rich and fresh, gotta love it. I’m addicted to prawns.
I could also have every meal with prawns
I love shrimp. Your recipe looks great. You got a great blog for SRC>
thank you Veronica
This looks beautiful! I love the use of the mascarpone!
It was a great addition to this recipe
A lovely dish! And while it´s fun to participate in challenges, the important bit is eating and enjoying the food with loved ones
for sure, the eating and sharing is the best bit
I had Carrie last month! She’s great. And this looks great too!!! Well done! So glad to be in the SRC club and to meet great foodie bloggers like you!
Lots of yummy love,
Alex aka Ma What’s For Dinner
great to meet you as well Alex – thanks for the visit
I’m Italian, so naturally, this recipe has my name written all over it. Oh, and that mascarpone cheese…how fancy! Love it!
So glad to hear that! grazie
This looks so delicious – a seafood Italian lovers dream without a doubt
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Thanks CCU
You certainly don’t need chives to make this pasta look mouthwatering. The Prawns say it all and it hasthree of my fav ingredients, cheese, garlic and lemon.
I think all meals should have garlic! Thanks for the visit
Great flavors, and bet adding that marscapone makes it nice and creamy. Yum!
Thanks Chris and Amy, it was delicious
I bet it tastes as good as it looks too, with the garlic and lemons it has some of my favourite tastes in there.. thank you tandy! c
my pleasure Celi
Looks really delicious! I think you should name yourself The Queen of Pasta!
*blush*, thank you