Pasta flan with zucchini and shrimps

It had been a really long time that I wanted to make this pasta flan and I finally did it! I tasted it for the first time in single-portion version during a holiday in Sicily under a stunning sunset. I can’t wait to go back to that wonderful place but for the moment I’m trying to get satisfaction cooking this recipe. I know: the view it’s not the same, but I assure you that if you close your eyes while tasting it, it will seem to be by the sea.

MAKES 1 mold of 18 cm in diameter

READY IN 45 ‘

INGREDIENTS:

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon chopped onion
Approx. 15 shrimps
¼ glass white wine, dry
½ glass mashed tomatoes
½ glass hot water
Salt to taste

3-4 medium / large zucchini
Salt to taste

Water and coarse salt to taste
7,7 oz anelletti pasta
1 knob butter (about 0,7 oz)

2 oz grated “caciocavallo” cheese

Butter and breadcrumbs to taste

STEP 1: SAUTE THE SHRIMPS
Place oil and onion in a non-stick pan and sauté 1 minute.

Now add the shrimps and brown them on both sides for 1 minute, then add wine until evaporated.

Add mashed tomatoes, water and salt and cook for a couple of minutes.

Now take the shrimps out of the pan and place them apart while leaving the gravy there.

Keep 4/5 whole shrimps for the final decoration, while for the others remove the carapace, the internal thread and slice them.

STEP 2: COOK THE ZUCCHINI
Cut the courgettes into small cubes,

then add them to the pan where you cooked the shrimps.

Cook for about ten minutes, adding salt if necessary.

STEP 3: COOK ANELLETTI PASTA 
Cook anelletti in boiling salted water a couple of minutes less than the expected cooking time (afterwards they have to be put back in the oven, it is better if they are a little “al dente”).

Drain them and mix them with butter.

STEP 4: ADD THE SAUCE
Place anelletti in a bowl and add the sauce with courgettes,  shrimps cut into pieces, cheese and mix.

STEP 5: COOK THE FLAN
Butter a flan mold, then sprinkle with breadcrumbs removing the excess.

Now place the pasta filling inside the mold pressing with the spoon to make it stick all over the mold.

Dust the surface with more breadcrumbs.

Cook the flan in preheated oven at 180-190 ° C for 30 minutes. Then take it out of the oven and let it cool before turning upside down.

A PIECE OF ADVICE: You can decorate the flan  with the shrimps you left whole. Be sure to sauté them very quickly in a pan with 1-2 tablespoons of water in order to make them hot.