Shrimp Pasta with Fries

Image courtesy of Deun Ivory.

What pairs best with gluten-free shrimp spaghetti? Ask Deun Ivory and the answer is French fries. When the photographer isn’t using her camera to celebrate Black culture and beauty, she spends her time like a local in Houston. Whether she’s ordering a plate of shrimp pasta with a side of fries at Bellagreen restaurant or making her own version at home, the combination never misses. “It's such a warm and delicious meal that hits all the right spots,” Ivory tells Family Style.

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Ingredients:

For shrimp pasta

• 1 pound shrimp shelled and deveined
• 8 ounces gluten-free spaghetti or linguine
• 3 tablespoons of olive oil
• 1 clove of garlic
• 1 pint of fresh roma tomatoes
• 1 shallot
• 1 tbsp chile paste or harissa 
• 1 ¼ cups packed basil leaves

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For French fries:

• 2 pounds of potatoes
• 2 tablespoons of white vinegar
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1 quart canola or vegetable oil 

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Instructions

For shrimp pasta:

1. Peel shrimp and leave the tails on. Toss the shells into a pot and add 8 cups of water.
2. Reduce heat to medium-high and use a knife to devein the shrimp.
3. Once stock is reduced, strain the shrimp shells out of water.
4. Add a pinch of salt to water, and begin boiling your gluten-free spaghetti or linguine.
5. While pasta is cooking, place a skillet on medium-high heat and add 2 tablespoons of olive oil.
6. Add tomatoes to the skillet and cook, stirring frequently until tomatoes start to blister, then add garlic and shallot.
7. Push tomatoes and garlic to the perimeter of the skillet and add the last tbsp of olive oil, then add shrimp. Cook until shrimp becomes pink and opaque.
8. Drop the heat to low and add cooked pasta to the skillet with tomatoes and shrimp. Add ½ cup of shrimp stock to the skillet and either chile paste or harissa. Toss over medium-low heat, add more salt and chile as desired. 
9. Tear basil into pieces and toss into skillet. 
10. Top off with more basil and cheese of choice and serve!

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For French fries:

1. Peel potatoes and cut into strips approximately ¼- inch thick. Submerge cut potatoes into a bowl of water to prevent browning as you chop.
2. Take cut fries out of water and place into a large pot with 2 quarts cold water, vinegar, and salt. Bring to a boil then immediately reduce heat to low. Cook for 10 minutes.
3. Strain fries out of water and leave spread out on a tray to dry for 5 minutes.
4. Place fries in a pot with oil and bring to a boil. Fry for approximately 5 minutes stirring and flipping fries occasionally.
5. Once golden brown, strain fries out of oil and place on a tray lined with paper towels to cool and dry.
6. Sprinkle on salt and enjoy!