Best Shrimp And Fennel With Pasta Shells Recipes

Fennel & Garlic Shrimp image

Provided by Ina Garten

Time 30m

Yield 2 to 3 servings

Number Of Ingredients 10

6 tablespoons good olive oil
1 cup chopped fennel bulb, fronds reserved
3 tablespoons minced garlic (9 cloves)
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 pound (16- to 20-count) shrimp, peeled with tails on
1 tablespoon chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1 tablespoon Pernod (optional)
1 teaspoon fleur de sel
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
French bread for serving

Steps:

Heat the olive oil in a large (12-inch) saute pan over medium heat. Add the fennel and saute for 5 minutes, until tender but not browned. Turn the heat to medium-low, add the garlic and red pepper flakes, and cook at a very low sizzle for 2 to 3 minutes, until the garlic just begins to color.
Pat the shrimp dry with paper towels, add them to the pan, and toss together with the fennel and olive oil. Spread the shrimp in one layer and cook over medium heat for 2 minutes on one side. Turn the shrimp and cook for 2 minutes on the other side, until they¿re pink and just cooked through.
Off the heat, sprinkle with the parsley, 1 tablespoon of chopped fennel fronds, the Pernod (if using), the fleur de sel, and black pepper and serve it with bread to soak up all the pan juices.

Shrimp and Roasted Fennel Ditalini image

Provided by Joan Lang

Yield Serves 4

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 pound (16 to 20) extra large shrimp, shells intact, thawed if frozen
1 teaspoon fennel seeds
1 teaspoon salt, preferably sea salt, divided
1 fennel bulb, halved and sliced crosswise (chopped fronds for garnish, optional)
4 cloves garlic, chopped
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Grated zest of 1 lemon (1 julienned strip for garnish, optional)
1/2 pound whole-wheat ditalini

Steps:

Heat oven to 450°F. Shell shrimp, but keep tails intact, if desired; reserve shells. In a small pan over medium heat, toast fennel seeds until golden brown, 5 minutes; crush. In a bowl, toss shrimp with fennel seeds. In same pan, bring 1 cup water to a boil with 1/2 teaspoon salt and reserved shells; reduce heat and simmer, partially covered, 30 minutes. Remove and discard shells; simmer until stock reduces by half, 5 minutes. In a roasting pan, place sliced fennel, garlic, oil, pepper and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt; toss. Roast until fennel is tender, 20 minutes. Stir in shrimp, stock and zest; roast until shrimp are just cooked through, 5 minutes. Cook pasta as directed on package until al dente. Drain pasta, reserving 1 cup cooking liquid. Add pasta to roasting pan; roast until pasta is completely cooked, adding reserved liquid a little at a time and stirring to reach desired consistency, 5 to 10 minutes. Serve garnished with julienned zest and fennel fronds, if desired.