Shrimp Spaghetti - hold the marinara, bring on the cherry tomatoes

Cherry tomatoes, garlic, mushrooms, and crushed red pepper.

When the shrimp turn pink, they're done.

Spaghetti is spaghetti is spaghetti, or so the unimaginative twits mutter.  Let ‘em! They see noodles as a glob, soaked in tasteless tomato sauce, instead of a canvas waiting for a culinary palate of color and taste.

Time to flip to a new page.  Banish those failed chemistry projects labeled spaghetti sauce, and let your spaghetti soar!  Unleash that magic simplicity that delights the eye and brings a smile to your face.  Think of the almost limitless possibilities of flavor and panache!  Now, race to the kitchen, sip some wine, and prepare to share some of that magic.

Shrimp Spaghetti

3 cups of cherry tomatoes, quartered

1/3 cup olive oil + 2 tbsp to pour over the cooked spaghetti

4 large cloves of garlic, thinly sliced

1 tsp crushed red pepper

1 1/2 cups thinly sliced mushrooms
3 tbsp chopped Spanish chorizo, casing removed

1 1/2 cups white wine

1 lb (or more) medium shrimp, cleaned and peeled

1/3 cup chopped cilantro

1 package spaghetti (gluten free works just as well for this dish)

Heat 1/3 cup olive oil over medium heat.  Add the cherry tomatoes, mushrooms, garlic, crushed red pepper and chorizo.  Cook until tomatoes are softened, about 6 minutes.  Add the white wine and cook until reduced by half.

While the sauce is reducing, boil the spaghetti noodles in salted water until al dente, 7 minutes.

Add the shrimp to the tomato mixture and stir to cook.  When the shrimp are pink, they’re done.

Drain the spaghetti, reserving 1/4 cup of the cooking water.

Add the cooked spaghetti to the tomato mixture; pour the reserved water and the 2 tbsp olive oil over the noodles, and mix the spaghetti with the sauce.

Serve with warm, crusty bread and white wine. Gewürztraminer stands up well to this mildly spicy, flavorful dish.

If you hear even a hint of complaint from your ungrateful guests, banish them forever, and spread the rumor they’re copious droolers who laugh uncontrollably at odd times.