Tagliolini with Shrimp and Lemongrass

Tagliolini with shrimp and lemongrass is a dish that blends the sophistication of Italian cuisine with exotic flavors. Here is the recipe with an Italian twist.

Ingredients

• 250g fresh tagliolini
• 300g cleaned shrimp
• 1 stalk of lemongrass
• 2 cloves of garlic
• 1 fresh chili pepper (optional)
• Grated zest and juice of 1 untreated lemon
• Chopped fresh parsley
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Salt to taste
• Pepper to taste

Preparation

1. Begin by cleaning the shrimp, if not already done. Remove the shell, head, and tail, and remember to also remove the intestinal tract.
2. Finely chop the lemongrass, after removing the tougher outer leaves, and slice the garlic cloves.
3. In a wide skillet, heat a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and sauté the garlic with the lemongrass until golden. If you like, also add the chopped fresh chili pepper.
4. Add the shrimp to the skillet and sauté over high heat for a couple of minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
5. Meanwhile, cook the tagliolini in plenty of salted water following the instructions to obtain an al dente texture.
6. Once the shrimp are cooked, remove the garlic, add the lemon zest and juice and turn off the heat.
7. Drain the tagliolini and transfer them to the skillet with the shrimp, tossing everything together over moderate heat to flavor the pasta.
8. Add the chopped fresh parsley, a drizzle of raw oil, and if necessary, a bit of the pasta cooking water to make the sauce creamier.
9. Serve hot.

Curiosity

Lemongrass, with its scent reminiscent of lemon but with more grassy and floral notes, is one of the essential ingredients in Southeast Asian cuisine. The use of this ingredient in an Italian dish like tagliolini is an example of culinary fusion, where the boundaries between cuisines blend to create entirely new and intriguing flavors.