Coconut Curry Shrimp Pasta 🍤🥥🌶 Creamy, Spiced, and Bursting With Southeast Asian Flavor in a Pasta Twist

This is where Thai-inspired coconut curry collides with pasta night — and it works. Juicy shrimp swim in a velvety coconut milk sauce layered with red curry, garlic, and lime, all tangled into linguine or spaghetti for a bold, comforting fusion dish.

It’s rich but not heavy, spicy but smooth — the kind of pasta that surprises you in the best way.

Ingredients (Serves 2–3)

For the shrimp:

• ¾–1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 1 tbsp oil (neutral or coconut)
• Salt and pepper
• Optional: ½ tsp curry powder or chili flakes

For the curry pasta sauce:

• 2 tbsp oil (or butter)
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1½ tbsp red curry paste (Thai-style)
• 1 can (13.5 oz) full-fat coconut milk
• 1 tbsp fish sauce or soy sauce
• Juice of ½ lime
• 1 tsp brown sugar (optional)
• 1 tbsp chopped cilantro or Thai basil
• Optional: chili oil or extra lime for finishing

For the pasta:

• 8 oz linguine, spaghetti, or rice noodles
• Reserved pasta water (¼ cup)

Instructions

Step 1: Cook the Pasta

Boil pasta in salted water until al dente. Reserve ¼ cup pasta water before draining.

Step 2: Sear the Shrimp

Season shrimp lightly with salt and pepper (and optional curry powder).
Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high and sear shrimp 1–2 minutes per side until just cooked. Remove and set aside.

Step 3: Build the Curry Sauce

Lower heat to medium. In the same skillet, add oil and sauté garlic for 30 seconds. Stir in red curry paste and cook for 1–2 minutes to deepen the flavor.

Pour in coconut milk and stir until smooth. Add fish sauce (or soy), lime juice, and brown sugar. Simmer 3–5 minutes to thicken slightly. Taste and adjust balance — more lime for brightness, more sugar for roundness, more curry for heat.

Step 4: Combine

Add cooked pasta and reserved pasta water to the skillet. Toss until glossy and coated. Fold in shrimp and chopped herbs.

Step 5: Serve

Plate with extra lime wedges, chopped cilantro or Thai basil, and chili oil if desired.

Flavor Variations

• Make it green: Use green curry paste instead of red
• Add crunch: Top with crushed peanuts or crispy shallots
• Go veggie: Add sautéed bell peppers, spinach, or snap peas
• Coconut lovers: Stir in a spoonful of coconut cream for richness

Pro Tips

• Use Thai-style curry paste (Mae Ploy, Maesri, etc.) for real flavor depth
• Cook curry paste in oil — it blooms the spices
• Don’t overcook the shrimp — they just need a quick sear
• Pasta water helps the sauce cling — don’t skip it
• Lime is key to balance — add just enough to cut the richness

Final Thoughts

Coconut Curry Shrimp Pasta is cozy, spicy, and wildly flavorful — the best parts of Thai curry and Italian comfort blended into a bowl that’s hard to put down. It’s creamy, aromatic, and just a little unexpected.

Sear it. Simmer it. Slurp it loud. 🍤🥥🍝🔥

🦐 More Coastal Seafood Recipes

From cozy casseroles to zesty grilled fish and elegant seafood pastas, this collection of Seafood Recipes covers every ocean-inspired craving — whether you’re planning a dinner party or a quick weeknight win.

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• 🐟 Salmon Recipes – Baking & grilling to bowls, pastas, and more — healthy, flavorful, and easy to make/
• 🦞 Seafood Casseroles – Bubbly, Buttery & Oven-Ready. Comfort food meets coastal flavor.
• 🥣 Flavorful Seafood Soups – Rich chowders, bisques, and broth-based favorites.
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• 🍚 Risotto Recipes with Seafood – Creamy, silky rice dishes meet the richness of the sea.
• 🌊 Seafood Stews – Mediterranean, Latin to classic American, hearty stews with satisfying depth in your bowl.
• 🍝🧀 Seafood Lasagna – Lasagna meets the sea in these rich and satisfying delicious twist classic bakes.