Strozzapreti with Mantis Shrimp Sauce

Strozzapreti with mantis shrimp sauce is a particularly tasty little dish and a great way to bring a bit of the sea into Italian culinary tradition. Here are the ingredients and how to prepare this flavorful dish:

Ingredients

• Strozzapreti: 400g
• Mantis shrimps (also known as sea cicadas): 500g
• Cherry tomatoes: 200g
• Garlic: 2 cloves
• White wine: 100ml
• Fresh chopped parsley: to taste
• Extra virgin olive oil: to taste
• Salt and pepper: to taste

Preparation

1. First, clean the mantis shrimps by removing the hard outer shell and keeping only the flesh. If they haven’t already been cleaned by the fishmonger, be careful not to injure yourself and remove all inedible parts.

2. In a large skillet, sauté the garlic cloves in extra virgin olive oil. As soon as the garlic begins to turn golden, add the mantis shrimps and let them cook for a couple of minutes over high heat.

3. Deglaze with the white wine and allow the alcohol to evaporate.

4. Add the cherry tomatoes cut in half or quarters, according to preference, and cook over medium heat for about 10-15 minutes, until you have a thick, aromatic sauce. Season with salt and pepper.

5. Meanwhile, bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook the strozzapreti al dente, following the cooking times suggested on the package.

6. Drain the pasta, reserving a little cooking water, and transfer it to the skillet with the mantis shrimp sauce. Mix well to combine the ingredients, adding a bit of cooking water if needed to make the sauce creamier.

7. Sprinkle with fresh chopped parsley and serve hot.

The dish has coastal origins, where access to fresh mantis shrimps is easier. If you can’t find fresh mantis shrimps, you can substitute them with shrimp or other crustaceans of your choice. Buon appetito!