This homemade Jerk Shrimp Pasta recipe is a tasty culinary mashup combining ingredients and flavours from Italy and Jamaica.
Our eye-catching Jerk Shrimp Rasta Pasta features plump prawns marinated in Jamaica’s traditional spicy seasoning.
The quick & easy pasta dish features a bust of flavour thanks to onions, sweet bell peppers, ginger, garlic, creamy coconut milk, tomatoes, spinach, lime juice and cilantro.
If you’re hosting a Caribbean themed dinner party serve your guests this mouth-watering Jamaican Pasta and we guarantee everyone will asking for the recipe!
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What is Jamaican Jerk?
Jerk is a style of cooking native to Jamaica, in which meat is dry-rubbed or wet marinated with a hot spice mixture called Jamaican jerk spice.
Some culinary historians in the Caribbean believe it was originally developed by Maroons, enslaved Africans who escaped into Jamaica when the British captured the island from Spain in 1655. Adapting to their new surroundings, the former slaves made use of the natural food sources available to them, creating the spicy sauce and slowly cooking the meat over a smoking wood fire.
Other historians argue that “jerking” originated with the Amerindians in Jamaica from the Arawak and Taino tribes who intermingled with the Maroons.
The word jerk is said to come from charqui, a Spanish term of Quechua origin for jerked or dried meat, which eventually became the word jerky in English. The term jerk is also derived from the action of “jerking”, which referred to poking meat with holes so that flavour could more easily be absorbed.
The smoky taste of jerked meat is achieved using a variety of cooking methods, including modern and wood-burning grills and ovens.
The meat is normally chicken or pork but can also be seafood, and the main ingredients of the spicy jerk marinade sauce are allspice and Scotch bonnet peppers. Additional jerk seasoning ingredients include cloves, cinnamon, scallions, nutmeg, thyme, garlic, brown sugar, ginger and salt..
Jerk cooking is popular in Caribbean and West Indian communities throughout North America and Western Europe.
What Is Jerk Shrimp Rasta Pasta?
Another name for Jamaican Pasta is Rasta Pasta, which was first created in Negril, Jamaica in 1985 by Chef Lorraine Washington in her Paradise Yard Restaurant.
Chef Lorraine recalls making fettuccine for a group of construction workers and topping it with red sauce and then a bit of ackee, Jamaica’s national fruit. The red, green, and yellow colors hinted at Rasta colours which prompted one of the carpenters to call it Rasta Pasta!
Italian pasta is combined with Jamaican ingredients and flavours like jerk seasoning, onions, sweet bell peppers, onions, ginger, garlic, coconut milk, tomatoes, spinach, lime and cilantro.
The most popular renditions of the recipe include Chicken or Shrimp Rasta Pasta.
The Italian-meets-Jamaica dish can also be made vegetarian by omitting the seafood and meat and simply adding jerk seasoning to the sauce.
The delicious pasta dish is typically prepared with penne but we prefer using fresh tagliatelle egg noodles cooked to al dente perfection!
Travel to the Jamaica by Cooking Jerk Shrimp Pasta at Home
I love traveling to Latin America and the Caribbean.
As a professional food and travel journalist, I’ve had the opportunity to enjoy amazing meals in the Caribbean, from local food markets to award winning restaurants.
For over ten years, I’ve been on the hunt for the best Jerk Shrimp Pasta via adventures that had me sailing from turquoise waters and white sandy beaches in Jamaica, Cuba, Curacao and Puerto Rico.
I ate a steaming bowl of Shrimp Rasta Pasta at the island’s best restaurants at Round Hill Resort, Half Moon Resort, The House Boat Grill, Scotchies Jerk Restaurant and several local eateries during a rural Jamaican road trip.
Shrimp Rasta Pasta is often prepared with cream but in our recipe we substitute coconut milk to add additional tropical flavours that will transport your taste buds to a sun-soaked Jamaican beach.
Where To Eat Shrimp Rasta Pasta
If you live in a large city in Canada or America you’ll likely have access to a local Caribbean restaurant that serves Jerk Shrimp Pasta.
Haven’t traveled to Jamaica before? It may be helpful to first sample Shrimp Rasta Pasta at a local restaurant to better understand how the dish is served. You’ll get an idea for the desired spicy heat level, preferred pasta shape and shrimp to vegetable ratio.
In Toronto, popular Caribbean restaurants that may serve their own rendition of Jamaican Pasta include Chubby’s Jamaican Kitchen, Pat’s Homestyle Jamaican Restaurant, Allwyn’s Bakery, Nicey’s Eatery, Jerk King, Mr. Jerk and The Real Jerk.
My Family Loves Jamaican Pasta
I love cooking for my friends and family!
After enjoying a road trip to Jamaica and dining out at some of Toronto’s best Caribbean restaurants I wanted to share my love of spicy jerk seasoning.
My parents have traveled to Jamaica several times on winter getaways to enjoy a beach holiday so I knew they’d love to forking through this Jerk Shrimp Rasta Pasta.
When developing this recipe I used a bottle of Jerk Seasoning my mother bought on her most recent trip to Jamaica. You can purchase jerk seasoning at Caribbean grocers or online.
Health Benefits
Our homemade Jerk Shrimp Pasta recipe is packed full of healthy ingredients!
Seafood is a high-protein food that is low in calories, total fat, and saturated fat. High in vitamins and minerals, seafood has been shown to have numerous health benefits including decreasing the risk of heart attack, stroke, obesity, and hypertension.
Olive Oil is ranked as one of the healthiest fats and is a staple in the Mediterranean diet. It contains vitamins E and K and plenty of beneficial fatty acids and antioxidants.
Onions are a humble vegetable packed with vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals. Regular consumption of onions can help boost digestive health and reduce the risk of developing heart disease.
Bell Peppers are an incredible source of vitamins C and A, which support your skin and immune system. They also provide beneficial carotenoid compounds such as beta-carotene, which has been shown to reduce the risk of certain cancers.
Ginger contains at least 14 phytochemicals, many of which have impressive antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It also has a good source of copper, which supports your bones, blood and nervous system.
It is only recently that scientists have begun to identify the components responsible for garlic’s myriad health benefits. Rich in phytochemicals and potassium, garlic helps boost your immune system, fight cancer and protect your heart.
Coconut is rich in fibre and may also offer a number of benefits including improved heart healthy and digestion. It is high in calories and sautéed fat so be sure to eat in moderation.
Rich in a group of phytochemicals called carotenoids, tomatoes may help reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke, and provide protection against cancer. Tomatoes are also a good source of immune-boosting vitamin C.
A rich source of phytochemicals and vitamin C, limes help boost your immune system and neutralize free radicals that cause disease and skin aging. Lemons also protect against heart disease and help improve blood flow to the brain.
Packed with folate, vitamin C, and potassium, spinach helps keep your blood, immune system and eyes healthy.
Consuming dairy products (such as milk and cheese) provides health benefits — especially improved bone health. Dairy foods provide nutrients that are vital for health and maintenance of your body. These nutrients include calcium, potassium, vitamin D, and protein.
A good source of bone-strengthening vitamin K, cilantro is also rich in antioxidants that help protect the eyes from damage by free radicals.
Recipe Cooking Tips
This yummy Jamaican Pasta is quick and easy to make at home.
- We’ve marinated shrimp in jerk seasoning for this Jamaican Pasta recipe but you can substitute for chicken if you prefer.
- Shrimp Rasta Pasta is typically made with penne but we prefer fresh egg noodles like tagliatelle.
- We’ve used a Spicy Jamaican Jerk Sauce but you can also use a Jerk Spice Mix.
- We’ve used red onions in this recipe but you can substitute with white onions or sweet Vidalia onions.
- We’ve used baby spinach in this pasta dish but you can use frozen spinach, just make sure to squeeze out the water before adding to the sauce.
- We’ve used coconut milk in this recipe to give it additional tropical flavour but you can substitute with whipping cream if you prefer.
- If you’re looking to make a dairy free version of the dish omit the parmesan cheese.
What To Serve with Jerk Shrimp Rasta Pasta
We love serving this homemade Jerk Shrimp Pasta on hot summer days or at a Caribbean dinner party.
If you’re hosting a Jamaican potluck you might want to serve Shrimp Rasta Pasta with dishes like Jamaican Chicken Soup with Dumplings, Curry Goat, Pineapple Plantain Jamaican Jerk Chicken Burger and Jamaican Old Fashioned Hummingbird Cake.
Since this decadent pasta is rather filling we like to serve it with fresh salads like Roasted Pumpkin Feta Salad, Roasted Beetroot Salad, Garlic Lemon Chickpea Avocado Salad, Ensalada de Gambas Spanish Grapefruit Fennel Shrimp Salad, Mango Pico de Gallo Salsa or Mexican Vegan Cucumber Radish Salad with Chipotle Peanuts.
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- Homemade Corzetti Pasta
How To Make Jamaican Jerk Shrimp Pasta
Jerk Shrimp Rasta Pasta
Equipment
- French knife
- Large Skillet
- Large pot
- measuring cups
- measuring spoons
- Mixing bowls
- Wooden spoon or spatula
Ingredients
- 1 lb Shrimp peeled, tails removed
- 2 tbsp Olive Oil
- 1 tbsp Soy Sauce
- 1 tbsp Jerk Seasoning
- 1/2 tsp White Sugar
- 1/2 cup Red Onion diced
- 1 Red Bell Pepper sliced
- 1 Yellow or Orange Bell Pepper sliced
- 1 Scallion sliced
- Kosher Salt + Black Pepper
- 1/2 tbsp Curry Powder
- 1/2 tsp Ground Ginger
- 1 Garlic Clove minced
- 1 cup Coconut Milk
- 7 oz Diced Tomatoes
- 2 tbsp Sweet Chili Sauce
- 350 g Fresh Linguini or Tagliatelle
- 1 Lime juiced
- 1 cup Baby Spinach
- 1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese grated
- Cilantro garnish
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat.
- In a medium bowl, combine the shrimp, 1 tbsp of olive oil, soy sauce, 1 tbsp jerk seasoning, and sugar and stir to combine. Let marinate at room temperature while you make the sauce.
- In a deep skillet, heat the remaining olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring, until beginning to soften, 2 minutes. Add the bell peppers and the green onions and a few pinches of salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, for about 4 minutes.
- Stir in the curry powder, ginger and garlic. Cook, stirring until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the coconut milk and tomatoes and bring to a simmer. Lower the heat to medium and simmer, stirring until the peppers are tender, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat, stir in the sweet chili sauce, and cover the pan.
- Drop the noodles into the boiling water and cook according to the package instructions until al dente.
- While the pasta boils, cook the shrimp. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium high heat. When the pan is hot, add half the marinated shrimp and cook, turning once, until browned on both sides, 2-3 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and repeat with remaining shrimp. Stir in the lime juice.
- Drain the pasta, reserving 1 cup of the pasta water. Add the pasta to the sauce, along with the shrimp and spinach. Toss and stir until the spinach is wilted and the linguine is coated in sauce. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Stir in the parmesan and garnish with cilantro.
Nutrition
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