This easy Rasta Pasta recipe is a delicious way to mix up your weeknight meals! This Caribbean-style pasta is made with jerk seasoning and is loaded full of flavor.
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The full recipe with ingredients/instructions is available on the recipe card at the bottom of the post. Important tips/tricks are also included in the blog post.
Have you ever tried Rasta pasta before? If not, you must give this recipe a go this week! This Caribbean style pasta is a great fusion dish that is seasoned with my jerk seasoning.
This dish is ready to serve in less than 30 minutes so it's perfect for an easy family weeknight meal. If you love my jerk chicken wings or my oxtail recipe, you will love this!
Ingredients You Will Need
Ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions are on the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.
- Penne Pasta - or any kind of pasta that can handle a thick sauce. Fettucine noodles work well too.
- Shrimp - or chicken, or whatever protein you prefer.
- Jerk Seasoning - dry or wet seasoning will work in this recipe.
- Oil - Use a high-heat cooking oil for searing the shrimp. I tend to use canola or olive oil in this recipe.
- Vegetables: Red and orange bell pepper, spinach, onion, garlic.
- Heavy Cream - to make the alfredo sauce for the pasta.
- Parmesan Cheese - for added flavor.
How To Make Rasta Pasta
Prepare pasta according to the directions on the box. Drain and set aside ½ pasta cup pasta water. Then, slice the veggies so that they are ready to use. Then coat the shrimp with 1 Tablespoon of the jerk seasoning.
Set a large skillet over medium heat and add oil. Cook shrimp for 2-3 min per side. Remove shrimp and set aside.
Deglaze the pan by adding ¼ cup pasta water and use a wooden spoon to remove brown bits. Add peppers, green onions, and garlic to the pan and cook until slightly softened about 5 minutes.
Add remaining pasta water, heavy cream, and remaining jerk seasoning and simmer for about 3 minutes.
Then add pasta, spinach, and parmesan cheese and stir until coated.
Remove from heat and top with shrimp.
Can you make this ahead of time?
I like to serve this Rasta pasta as soon as it's ready, but it will easily keep in the fridge for 3 days and can be reheated in on the stovetop or in the microwave. Just keep it in an airtight container and it will keep well.
When you reheat it, you may want to ad a couple of tablespoons of water to help the creamy sauce loosen up.
Can you use frozen shrimp in this recipe?
I like to use fresh shrimp, but you absolutley can use frozen in this dish. Just make sure that they are fully defrosted before you cook them. Whether you use fresh or frozen shrimp, make sure they are deveined and shelled. I prefer to remove the tails, but you can keep them on if you wish.
What is jerk seasoning?
Jerk seasoning is a Jamaican blend of dried spices and herbs, and it's a great way to add flavor to dishes. I like to use my own blend that you can easily adjust to your taste, but you can easily find it in the herbs and spices section in superstores. It's bright, spicy and brings every dish to life!
Is there a substitute for shrimp in rasta pasta
Absolultley! You can add oxtail, chicken, or tofu. The possibilities are endless when it comes to this recipe.
What Is Rasta Pasta? History Lesson
Rasta Pasta is in no way associated with Rastafarian culture as Rastafarians don’t eat meat or dairy. In fact, Rasta Pasta isn’t a dish you would see many Jamaicans eat growing up. However, fusion food is a beautiful thing and this dish gets its roots from a Jamaican chef who invented this Rasta Pasta recipe.
Rasta Pasta is colorful and gets its name because of the bright colors of the bell peppers in the recipe. This recipe is made with lots of fresh veggies and is served in a creamy, seasoned sauce. It's often made with chicken, but I topped mine with jerk shrimp.
Recipe Notes and Tips
- Cook the pasta al dente. It will continue to cook once it's drained and when it's mixed into the sauce, so don't overcook it.
- Take care not to overcook the shrimp. They only need a couple of minutes each side and they can become rubbery if you cook them for too long.
More Easy Pasta Recipes
Check out the full video tutorial where I make this delicious pasta recipe.
I hope you love this recipe as much as we do. If you have tried this recipe or any other recipe on my blog, please rate it and let me know how it turned out in the comments below! Your feedback is invaluable and helps us grow. Thank you for your support!
Rasta Pasta Recipe (Creamy Caribbean Pasta)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 8 oz penne pasta about 2 dry cups
- 1 lb shrimp peeled and deveined
- 2 Tablespoon jerk seasoning separated
- 2 Tablespoon canola oil
- 1 red bell pepper thinly sliced
- 1 orange bell pepper thinly sliced
- 2 cups fresh spinach
- 2 green onion
- 4 garlic cloves minced
- ¾ cup pasta water separated
- ¾ cup heavy cream
- 1 cup parmesan cheese shredded
Instructions
- Prepare pasta according to directions on the box. Drain and set aside ½ pasta cup pasta water.
- Coat shrimp with 1 Tablespoon of jerk seasoning.
- Set a large skillet over medium heat and add oil. Cook shrimp for 2-3 min per side. Remove shrimp and set aside.
- Deglaze the pan by adding ¼ cup pasta water and use a wooden spoon to remove brown bits. Add peppers, green onions, and garlic to the pan and cook until slightly softened about 5 minutes.
- Add remaining pasta water, heavy cream, and remaining jerk seasoning and simmer for about 3 minutes. Add pasta, spinach, and parmesan cheese and stir until coated.
- Remove from heat and top with shrimp.
Video
Notes
- Cook the pasta al dente. It will continue to cook once it's drained and when it's mixed into the sauce, so don't over cook it.
- Take care not to overcook the shrimp. They only need a a couple of minutes each side and they can become rubbery if you cook them for too long.
Nutrition
This post was originally published on May 19, 2020. It has been updated with new photos and information.
