Rasta Pasta with Jerk Shrimp (2024)

Published: Apr 6, 2021 · Modified: Feb 22, 2024 by Jen Sim · This post may contain affiliate links · 34 Comments

Calling all spice, cheese, and shrimp lovers! This Rasta Pasta with Jerk Shrimp Recipe is a mouth-watering celebration of Caribbean colors and flavors. Make this yummy dish in 30 minutes and serve it as lunch or dinner.

About This Recipe

Rasta Pasta has a Jamaican origin. It typically includes capsicum peppers, shrimp or chicken, cheese, cream, jerk sauce and more! The cheesy sauce is the base of this dish and the jerk sauce adds a herby, spicy twist.. Finally, let’s not forget the capsicum peppers that add freshness.

So why is it called Rasta pasta? Well, Rasta comes from the word Rastafarianism, a religious movement formed in the 1930s. The Rasta colors are red, yellow, and green, just like the capsicum peppers in this dish, hence the name "Rasta pasta".

This easy shrimp rasta pasta recipe has quite a few variations. It can be made with shrimp, chicken, or just peppers as a vegetarian option. As usual when making this dish, make sure you taste it as you go along to ensure you are happy with the flavors. For example, if you prefer a spicier dish, add more paprika, but if you are not really into heat, add less.

You can also try this refreshing Jamaican Jerk Chicken Salad as a side.

When can I serve this dish?

This dish is great for families and can be served whenever you like! I normally serve it for pescatarians, on Good Friday, for seafood lovers or when I’m in the mood for something different to 5-Cheese Mac N’ Cheese.

Rasta Pasta with Jerk Shrimp Recipe Ingredients

• Penne pasta is usually used for this recipe. It is straight, medium-sized, and goes well with the sauce.
• Large shrimp. I used large fresh shrimp for this recipe and cleaned and deveined it before cooking. You can also use frozen shrimp for this recipe but make sure you allow it to thaw before cooking. You can do this by soaking shrimps in warm water for about 10 minutes or until they become soft.
• Double cream. Use good quality double cream for this recipe.
• Cheese. I add cheddar, mozzarella, and parmesan to my Rasta pasta but feel free to add more or less of your favorite cheese out of the three.
• Capsicum peppers. You will need to add red, yellow, and green capsicum peppers to this recipe. The fresher the better to get the best flavours!
• Spring onions/scallions. Don’t forget to add the spring onions. They add a subtle, delicious oniony flavor and are sautéed with capsicum peppers.
• Garlic. Add a few fresh garlic cloves to this dish.
• Jerk sauce. Jerk is a popular Caribbean seasoning and sauce essential for this dish. It includes all the traditional Caribbean flavors and makes this dish unique.
• Seasoning. This recipe requires adobo, onion powder, garlic powder, and paprika. All these different seasonings contribute to the delicious flavors in the cheesy, creamy sauce.
• Oil

Equipment

• Saucepans
• Sieve
• Chef's knife
• Chopping board
• Mixing spoon
• Grater

Recipe Variations

The great thing about this dish is that it can be made with different proteins and still tastes amazing. If you don't have any shrimp or are not a fan, follow the same recipe and swap it with chicken or salmon. If you decide to use chicken or salmon, chop it up and cook for 7-12 minutes on each side or until done.

How to Make Rasta Pasta with Jerk Shrimp

1. Marinate shrimp with 2 tablespoon of jerk sauce and ¼ teaspoon of adobo. Refrigerate it while the pasta is being prepared.
2. Cook the pasta: Boil salted water in a saucepan. Once the water has boiled, add 350g of penne pasta and cook for 10-12 minutes. When the pasta is ready, drain and set aside to add to the Rasta pasta sauce later.
3. Cook shrimp: Heat a splash of oil in a pan while the pasta cooks. Then, add shrimp and cook on both sides for 3-4 minutes. Remove from the pot and set the shrimp aside for later.
4. Saute peppers: Then, add 2-3 chopped garlic cloves, ½ a chopped red bell pepper, ½ a yellow bell pepper, ½ a green bell pepper, and spring onions/green onions/scallions to the same saucepan that the shrimp was cooked in. Make sure you leave all the shrimp juices in the saucepan for more flavor. Then stir and cook for 2-3 minutes or until fragrant.
5. Creamy sauce: Pour 3 cups of double cream into the saucepan. Then add ½ teaspoon of adobo, 1 tablespoon of jerk sauce, 2 teaspoon of paprika, ¼ teaspoon of onion powder, ¼ garlic powder, and stir on low heat for 5 mins while it thickens.
6. Cheese: Once the sauce has thickened, stir and add ½ a cup of mozzarella, ½ cup of parmesan, ½ a cup of cheddar.
7. Rasta pasta: Finally, add 350g of the cooked penne pasta, jerk shrimp, and stir. Leave the Rasta pasta to cook on low heat for a few more minutes and serve!

How to Store Rasta Pasta with Shrimp

Refrigerate this dish in an airtight container for 3-4 days and reheat it in the microwave or stove.

Tips and Tricks

• Pasta: When cooking the pasta separately, do not cook it for too long. You don't want it to be too soft or fall apart when it is added to the creamy jerk sauce.
• Shrimp: Same goes for the shrimp! Do not cook it for too long, as it will lose flavor and become dry and chewy.
• Cheese: Feel free to add less or more cheese, depending on your preference.

FAQs

• Jamaican Rasta Pasta with Chicken From Recipe Vibes

Thanks for reading this recipe,comment below if you made this, and let me know how it went! Follow@simshomekitchenonInstagram, take a photo, tag and hashtag it with @simshomekitchen.

Stay connected and follow me for more recipes onFacebook,Pinterest, andInstagramfor all of my latest recipes!