Blue Linguine with Shrimp and Saffron Recipe
Valentine’s Day is the celebration of lovers, a moment when food becomes a universal language to express love and passion. What better way to celebrate this occasion than with a dish that enchants both the eyes and the palate? Linguine Blu con Scampi e Zafferano (Blue Linguine with Shrimp and Saffron) is the perfect synthesis of elegance and seduction—a blend of sea and land that evokes the magic of starry nights and the warmth of an embrace.
The Blue of Eternal Love
The color blue, unusual for a pasta dish, is not just an aesthetic detail: it symbolizes eternal love. In many cultures, blue represents loyalty and the depth of feelings, just like the famous “something blue” that brides carry with them for good luck. In this dish, the credit goes to butterfly pea flowers, a natural ingredient that gives the linguine a charming hue, perfect for a candlelit dinner.
Valentine’s Day and the Sea: A Timeless Love Story
What connects the sea to Valentine’s Day? According to legend, Saint Valentine loved nature and blessed couples with flowers and symbols of love. The sea, with its vastness and mystery, has always been a metaphor for deep love—made of fierce waves and calm expanses. In this recipe, the raw, delicate, and refined shrimp become the protagonists of a perfect embrace with pasta the color of the sea.
A Touch of Passion: Saffron, the Gold of Spices
If blue represents fidelity, the intense yellow of saffron symbolizes passion and desire. Used since ancient times as an aphrodisiac spice, saffron dissolves into the shrimp sauce in this recipe, imparting an enveloping aroma that enhances the sweetness of the shellfish. This detail makes the dish even more special for a romantic dinner.
Recipe for Linguine Blu con Scampi e Zafferano
Ingredients for 2 People
- 5.5 oz linguine (160 g)
- 10 small shrimp (suitable for raw consumption)
- A handful of dried butterfly pea flowers
- A pinch of saffron threads + extra for decoration
- Zest of 1 organic lemon
- Salt and extra virgin olive oil to taste
Method
- Color the Cooking Water: Bring a pot of water to a boil and add the dried butterfly pea flowers. Let them steep for a few minutes until the water takes on a deep hue.
- Prepare the Shrimp: Clean the shrimp by removing the shells and intestinal vein. Leave a few whole for decoration and chop the rest into small pieces. Season with olive oil and grated lemon zest, then refrigerate.
- Prepare the Shrimp and Saffron Sauce: In a pan, heat a drizzle of olive oil and add the shrimp heads. Toast them for a few minutes, pressing with a spoon to extract the juices. Add half a cup of cold water and a pinch of saffron dissolved in a little hot water. Stir well and cook for a few minutes, then strain the liquid and discard the shells.
- Cook the Pasta: Boil the linguine in the colored water until halfway cooked, then drain, saving some of the blue water. Transfer the pasta to the pan with the shrimp sauce and finish cooking, adding more cooking water if needed to keep the sauce creamy.
- Plate with Love: Distribute the linguine onto plates, adding the raw shrimp (whole and chopped). Finish with a grating of lemon zest and a few saffron threads for decoration.
A Dish that Tells a Love Story
Linguine Blu con Scampi e Zafferano is more than just a recipe—they are a sensory experience, a way to surprise your loved one with colors and flavors that evoke deep emotions.
To complete your Valentine’s Day dinner, pair this dish with a glass of classic method sparkling wine, perfect to enhance the sweetness of the shrimp and the delicate aroma of saffron.
Because love, like cooking, is made of details, passion, and small gestures that make every moment unforgettable.
Happy Valentine’s Day and enjoy your meal!
