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Pasta & rice main dishes

Cold pasta with prawns and mussels

⏱ 60 min🍳 30 min👤 4 pp★★★☆☆

Of all the seasons, summer is the one best suited to letting your imagination run riot in the kitchen as you seek out a fresh and tasty dish, one which is enjoyable to eat but also healthy, without the risk of putting on too many calories. So how about making a lovely pasta salad, perfect during the summer for a lovely meal under the gazebo, or during a day at the beach. This is a dish where there is plenty of room for the imagination – where, for example, diced cheese or ham, combined with tuna and some crunchy carrots and tomatoes, create an irresistible combination. Our pasta salad described here, however, is a real triumph of Mediterranean cuisine: tomato and basil is the perfect opportunity to enjoy some seafood specialties ...

Ingredients

Nutritional values 520 kcal / serving
Protein
32g
Carbohydrates
72g
Fat
8g
Fiber
3g

* approximate values per serving

Information
60 minutes Total time
30 minutes Active time
Serves 4 persons
★★★☆☆ Challenging

Preparation

Put the pasta on to cook, and in the meantime make the sauce. Peel the prawns and steam them until they are nearly cooked through. Finely dice the celery and thinly slice the onion into half-moon shapes. Chop the capers and mix with the celery and onion. Dice the tomatoes and add to the rest of the ingredients. Dress the tomato, onion, celery and capers with salt, sugar and lots of olive oil. Add the prawns and basil and let stand. Clean the mussels and cook them. Once ready, remove the mussels from the shells and add to the remaining ingredients. Combine with the pasta, which you have cooled under a cold tap, and mix well. Loosen with a little of the mussel cooking sauce and it’s ready!

Tips
If you want to make your pasta salad even more delicious, you could add some clams.
Trivia
We can reveal a very interesting fact about the prawn: these crustaceans, unlike all others, have their hearts in their head.

Step by step

Ingredients
Ingredients
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Additional information

Cold Pasta with Shrimp and Mussels and Crunchy Vegetables

One of the tastiest variations of Cold Pasta with Shrimp and Mussels is the addition of crunchy vegetables like bell peppers and zucchini. These ingredients not only enrich the dish with color but also add extra freshness, making it ideal for hot summer days. To prepare it, simply dice the vegetables and add them to the dressing along with the shrimp and mussels. It is recommended to briefly sauté the vegetables in a pan to maintain their crunchiness before mixing them with the pasta and other ingredients. This variation is perfect for those who love to explore new flavors and make their Cold Pasta recipe even richer and more nutritious.

Cold Pasta with Shrimp and Mussels in Venetian Style

Cold Pasta with Shrimp and Mussels can be prepared according to Venetian tradition, enhancing the flavors of the sea and the surrounding lands. In this version, fresh mussels from the Venetian lagoons can be used, and the dish can be flavored with local herbs such as rosemary or oregano. Adding a bit of white wine during the cooking of the mussels will give a unique and authentic flavor to the preparation. Serving the cold pasta on a typical ceramic plate from the region will make it even more characteristic, creating a connection to Venetian culinary culture.

Light and Fresh Cold Pasta with Shrimp and Mussels

For those who desire a lighter version of Cold Pasta with Shrimp and Mussels, it is possible to opt for a preparation without oil and with whole wheat pasta. By replacing traditional pasta with whole wheat fusilli, you get a dish rich in fiber and nutrients. Additionally, heavier dressings can be replaced with an emulsion of lemon juice and a pinch of salt, maintaining the freshness of the ingredients. This light variation allows you to enjoy a summer dish while keeping caloric intake in check, without sacrificing flavor and goodness.

Nutritional Benefits of Cold Pasta with Shrimp and Mussels

Cold Pasta with Shrimp and Mussels is a dish that is not only delicious but also nutritious. Shrimp are an excellent source of protein and contain omega-3 fatty acids, which are beneficial for heart health. Mussels, on the other hand, are rich in vitamins and minerals, particularly vitamin B12, iron, and zinc. The combination of these ingredients makes the dish ideal for those looking to maintain a balanced diet. On average, a serving of Cold Pasta with Shrimp and Mussels provides about 400-500 calories, depending on the portions and ingredients used, making it an ideal option for a light and nutritious summer lunch.

Can Cold Pasta with Shrimp and Mussels be frozen?

Freezing Cold Pasta with Shrimp and Mussels is not recommended, as the texture of the shrimp and mussels may deteriorate during the freezing process. Additionally, the freshness of the vegetables and other ingredients may be lost, compromising the flavor of the dish. It is preferable to prepare Cold Pasta in quantities that can be consumed within a couple of days. If you wish to store it, you can keep it in the refrigerator in an airtight container, ensuring it is consumed within 2-3 days to guarantee the freshness and quality of the ingredients.