Creamy Shrimp with Zucchini

After all the heavy thanksgiving goodies last month we were craving something a little different - and shrimp sounded good - especially combined with the zucchini I had in the fridge in need of a home. I did a couple searches to get some ideas, knowing I wanted some form of creamy sauce and voila! This recipe was born.

The sauce is rich, creamy, and just lightly parmesan flavored - you can always up the cheese content if you want a stronger flavor, or sprinkle additional cheese on top. There is a nice hearty bed of vegetables which I loved the most about this dish. The zucchini, bell pepper, and mushrooms work nicely together for good flavor, color, and texture. Overall I found this dish to be rich, satisfying, and perfectly comforting for a cool evening - and doable for a work night which is always a huge plus!

Creamy Shrimp with Zucchini inspired by Julia's Album

Ingredients
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound shrimp without shells, deveined (thawed if frozen)
1 TBS minced garlic
1 cup sliced mushrooms
3 medium zucchini, sliced
1 orange bell pepper, thinly sliced
1 tsp dried basil
1 1/2 tsp sweet smoked paprika
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1 cup milk
1/2 TBS cornstarch
3/4 cup Parmesan cheese, shredded
1 cup Mozzarella cheese, shredded

Directions

1. Heat olive oil in a large nonstick skillet. When hot, add shrimp and cook for a couple minutes per side, or until pink (they don't have to be cooked all the way through). Remove shrimp from skillet and set aside. Add in the vegetables (mushrooms, bell pepper, and zucchini), along with the garlic, basil, salt, pepper, and paprika. Stir occasionally until vegetables are cooked through to your preference (approximately 10 - 15 minutes).
2. Combine the whipping cream, milk and cornstarch in a bowl and whisk to blend. Add the shrimp back to the skillet, then stir in the milk mixture. Bring to a low simmer, stirring occasionally, simmer for about 60 seconds until mixture begins to thicken and then add in the cheeses.
3. Stir gently until mixture combines. If it's not thick enough, allow to simmer for a couple minutes. Taste test, adjust seasonings and / or cheese if needed.
4. Serve over rice or pasta as preferred.