Pasta with Shrimp and Arugula

Pasta is one of my favorite things to cook, both for its possibilities and for all the meals I can get out of it. It's easy to get one dinner and three lunches out of a pound of pasta, which makes it one of the most cost-effective foods ever. And if you can find a pasta recipe that only takes a half an hour to make, well that's a bonus.

I got this easy recipe for pasta with shrimp and arugula from my friend Sabrina, an Italian girl who knows her pasta. Sabrina adapted it from another Italian girl who knows her pasta. When you get a recipe from an Italian who likes to cook, you know you can trust it. This dish is so good, I had to step away from my plate and fork. I could have easily finished the entire pot.

If you sub whole wheat noodles for white-flour pasta, this meal is crazy-healthy.

Whole Wheat Pasta with Shrimp and Arugula

Ingredients
1/4 C olive oil
1 finely chopped shallot
1 Tbs minced garlic
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes, plus more serving
1 C dry white wine
1 lb large shrimp, peeled and de-veined. Do yourself a favor and buy a bag of frozen, peeled and de-veined shrimp.
12 oz whole wheat pasta (I like wide noodles, but spaghetti, linguine, or whatever you prefer works just fine)
3 C (packed) fresh arugula

Heat the oil in a heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add the shallots and garlic and saute until translucent, about 2 minutes. Add the red pepper flakes and white wine and bring to a simmer. Simmer until the wine reduces by half, about 5 minutes. Add the shrimp and cook just until they are pink, about 2 minutes (5, if frozen).

Meanwhile, cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until just tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally. Note: whole wheat pasta is reaches a nice al dente after 6 minutes. If you're using white pasta, cook for 8 to 10 minutes.

Drain the pasta, and return to pot. Add the shrimp in its sauce, plus the arugula, to the pot. Toss to combine. Season the pasta with salt and pepper, red pepper flakes and a squeeze of lemon juice (optional).