SHRIMP FRA DIAVOLO WITH LINGUINE

Name: Shrimp Fra Diavolo
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 41 g (3 tbsp) extra virgin olive oil; 1 medium onion; 3 cloves garlic; 3 g (2 tsp) chile pepper flakes; 398 ml (14 oz) can of crushed tomatoes; 300 g (11 oz) shrimp (peeled & deveined); 1 g (1 tsp) dried oregeno; 118 ml (1/2 cup) white wine; 340 g (12 oz) dried linguine (uncooked); 2 g (2 tbsp) chopped parsley (to garnish)

Read Time: 6 minutes
by Karen
19 comments

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Are you a fan of spice? Look no further than the exquisite and fiery world of Shrimp Fra Diavolo! This dish is a celebration of the vibrant Italian tradition of bold, spicy, and mouthwatering cuisine. As you immerse yourself in the rich aroma and savor the irresistible combination of succulent shrimp, zesty tomato sauce, and perfectly cooked linguine, you’ll discover why this recipe has become a favorite for those who crave a bit of heat in their meals. This is a dish that promises to elevate your dining experience to new heights. Get ready to spice up your dinner and impress your taste buds with this delectable masterpiece that can be made in under 25 minutes!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Quick to make so you can have dinner on the table in under 25 minutes.
It’s easy to make with only a few simple steps.
You can adjust the amount of heat you want. Use more (or less) chile flakes to suit your taste.
It’s quite an economical dish to make.

What Ingredients Do I Need

To make this dish you will need a few simple ingredients, the shrimp and crushed tomatoes being the main items.

Shrimp – I use frozen shrimp that has been peeled, deveined, and thawed overnight in the fridge. Tails on or tails off. It’s your choice.
Crushed tomatoes – I like Mutti Polpa but you can use any good quality canned tomatoes. You can also use chopped tomatoes or whole tomatoes and crush them yourself by hand if you prefer.
Onion – 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped.
Garlic – 3 cloves, finely chopped.
Red pepper chile flakes – You could also use fresh chilis if you have them on hand.
Dried oregano
White wine – I use a pinot grigio but any dry white wine will work. Just make sure it’s something you would drink and not a “cooking wine”.
Extra virgin olive oil
Linguine – I prefer linguine but you could use another type like spaghetti or fettucine.
Fresh parsley – Chopped for a garnish.

Ingredients for shrimp fra Diavol in bowls on a counter.

How To Make Shrimp Fra Diavolo With Linguine

Boil water – Start by putting a large pot of water on to boil for the pasta. When it’s boiling, add a generous amount of salt and cook the pasta to al dente as per the instructions on the box.
Cook your aromatics – Start by heating a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add the extra virgin olive oil and the chopped onions. Cook the onions until they are soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Try not to allow them to brown. When the onions are soft, add the chopped garlic and cook for 2 minutes more.

Someone adding chopped garlic to onions cooking in a skillet.

Add chili flakes and tomatoes – When the garlic has softened add the chile flakes and cook for about a minute before adding the crushed tomatoes. Turn the heat to medium-high and bring the tomato mixture to a boil.

Someone adding chile flakes to onion mixture cooking on a stove.

Someone adding crushed tomatoes to onion mixture cooking on a stove.

Add oregano and wine – Once the tomato mixture has come to a boil add the dried oregano and the white wine. Bring the mixture back to a boil and continue to cook for about 5 minutes to allow the alcohol to burn off.

Someone adding oregano to tomato mixture.

Someone adding wine to a tomato sauce cooking on a stove.

Add shrimp – Add the shrimp to the pot and cook for about 3-4 minutes or until the shrimp are opaque and just cooked through. Be sure not to overcook the shrimp or they will be tough.

Someone adding shrimp to a tomato sauce cooking on a stove.

Shrimp cooking in a tomato sauce on the stove.

Serve – Once the shrimp are cooked through, add salt & pepper to taste and add the cooked linguine to the skillet. Combine well and cook over low heat for 1-2 minutes to allow the pasta to finish cooking in the sauce.
Garnish with the chopped parsley and serve.

A pan filled with shrimp fra diavolo on a counter.

Recipe Tips and Tricks For Success

Try not to allow the onions to brown. Cook them over low heat until they are soft and translucent.
Don’t brown the garlic. Only cook it for a minute or two.
Make sure to boil the sauce for at least 5 minutes after adding the wine. This will ensure the alcohol has a chance to burn off.
Don’t overcook the shrimp or it will be tough and chewy. It only needs 3-4 minutes. They will be ready when they turn pink and opaque in color.
Do finish cooking the linguine in the sauce to allow it to absorb the flavors of the sauce.

Recipe Variations

Feel free to use another kind of pasta if you want. Fettucine or spaghetti would work well.

You could also use another type of seafood if you want. Shrimp Fra Diavolo is often served with lobster for an elegant upgrade. Scallops would also be delicious with this sauce.

This sauce is also delicious served over creamy polenta. Find my recipe for easy cheesy polenta here.

A bowl of shrimp fra diavolo with linguine on a table.

Recipe Substitutions

To make this dish gluten-free use your favorite gluten-free pasta. To make it vegan feel free to use a vegan substitute for the shrimp. Tofu would also be tasty with this sauce.

Storage Tips For Shrimp Fra Diavolo

If you have leftovers, the Shrimp Fra Diavolo sauce can be stored covered in the fridge for up to 3 days. For the best results serve it with fresh pasta and be careful when reheating it not to overcook the shrimp. The sauce and the pasta can also be stored, covered in the fridge for up to 3 days, and reheated in the microwave for a few minutes. Just keep in mind the pasta will no longer be al dente.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS;

What does fra diavolo mean in Italian? Fra diavolo literally means "Friar Devil" and was the nickname of an 18th century guerilla leader. Another translation says that fra diavolo means "brother devil", fra being a shortform of "fratello" or brother in Italian.

How do you say "shrimp fra diavolo"? If you want to sound Italian pronounce it "fra-dia-voh-loh" just like you would hear in Italy. 

What is the difference between arriabiata and fra diavolo? Meaning "angry" in Italian, arriabiata is more similar to a marinara sauce meant to be served with pasta while fra diavolo was created to be served with seafood, mainly lobster or shrimp. A fra diavolo dish can be served with mainy things including polenta, however it is more commonly served with a pasta.