Shrimp and Roasted Fennel Ditalini

Name: Shrimp and Roasted Fennel Ditalini
Total time: 1 h 15 min
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 1 pound extra large shrimp; 1 teaspoon fennel seeds; 1 teaspoon salt; 1 bulb fennel bulb; 4 cloves garlic; 2 tablespoons olive oil; ½ teaspoon black pepper; 1 whole lemon zest; ½ pound whole-wheat ditalini

A sophisticated pasta dish combining succulent extra large shrimp with aromatic roasted fennel and whole wheat ditalini pasta. The dish is enhanced with toasted fennel seeds and a flavorful shrimp stock made from scratch.

4 servings

1 hr 15 min

Published October 4, 2025

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Ingredients

•1 pound extra large shrimp
•1 teaspoon fennel seeds
•1 teaspoon salt
•1 bulb fennel bulb
•4 cloves garlic
•2 tablespoons olive oil
•½ teaspoon black pepper
•1 whole lemon zest
•½ pound whole-wheat ditalini

Cooking Instructions

1.
Heat oven to 450°F. Shell shrimp, but keep tails intact, if desired; reserve shells. In a small pan over medium heat, toast fennel seeds until golden brown, 5 minutes; crush. In a bowl, toss shrimp with fennel seeds. In same pan, bring 1 cup water to a boil with 1/2 teaspoon salt and reserved shells; reduce heat and simmer, partially covered, 30 minutes. Remove and discard shells; simmer until stock reduces by half, 5 minutes. In a roasting pan, place sliced fennel, garlic, oil, pepper and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt; toss. Roast until fennel is tender, 20 minutes. Stir in shrimp, stock and zest; roast until shrimp are just cooked through, 5 minutes. Cook pasta as directed on package until al dente. Drain pasta, reserving 1 cup cooking liquid. Add pasta to roasting pan; roast until pasta is completely cooked, adding reserved liquid a little at a time and stirring to reach desired consistency, 5 to 10 minutes. Serve garnished with julienned zest and fennel fronds, if desired.
75 min

Cooking Instructions

Heat oven to 450°F. Shell shrimp, but keep tails intact, if desired; reserve shells. In a small pan over medium heat, toast fennel seeds until golden brown, 5 minutes; crush. In a bowl, toss shrimp with fennel seeds. In same pan, bring 1 cup water to a boil with 1/2 teaspoon salt and reserved shells; reduce heat and simmer, partially covered, 30 minutes. Remove and discard shells; simmer until stock reduces by half, 5 minutes. In a roasting pan, place sliced fennel, garlic, oil, pepper and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt; toss. Roast until fennel is tender, 20 minutes. Stir in shrimp, stock and zest; roast until shrimp are just cooked through, 5 minutes. Cook pasta as directed on package until al dente. Drain pasta, reserving 1 cup cooking liquid. Add pasta to roasting pan; roast until pasta is completely cooked, adding reserved liquid a little at a time and stirring to reach desired consistency, 5 to 10 minutes. Serve garnished with julienned zest and fennel fronds, if desired.

75 min