Gambas Pasta with “Poor Man’s Parmesan”

If your recipe calls for parmesan cheese but you don’t have it, you can make a quick alternative known as the “Poor Man’s Parmesan” — made with breadcrumbs, garlic, parsley, and olive oil. It adds crunch, flavor, and texture that works beautifully with pasta. In this recipe, we’ll use it to top a flavorful Gambas (shrimp) pasta with olives.

How to Cook

Make the Poor Man’s Parmesan

1. Mix chopped garlic, parsley, and breadcrumbs.
2. Heat olive oil in a pan and toast the mixture until golden.
3. Season with salt (generously, to mimic parmesan saltiness) and pepper.
4. Cook gently over medium heat until crunchy and golden.
5. Set aside — this will be your parmesan substitute.
6. Prepare the Shrimp
7. Season shrimp with salt, paprika, lemon juice, olive oil, and black pepper. Toss well.

Cook the Pasta

1. Boil water, season generously with salt.
2. Cook pasta (angel hair cooks in ~3 minutes). Reserve some pasta water.

Make the Sauce

1. Heat olive oil in a pan on medium heat.
2. Add sliced garlic before the oil gets too hot (to infuse flavor without burning).
3. Add a pinch of chili flakes.
4. Add marinated shrimp and cook until just done.
5. Add whole green and black olives.
6. Add cooked pasta directly to the pan, along with a bit of pasta water.
7. Toss with fresh parsley, season with salt and pepper.

Plate the Dish

1. Plate pasta neatly, top with shrimp and olives.
2. Scatter the Poor Man’s Parmesan on top for crunch.
3. Drizzle extra virgin olive oil.
4. Finish with chili flakes, parsley, and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.

Pro Tips

• Keep heat on medium when toasting breadcrumbs — don’t burn them.
• Be generous with salt when seasoning pasta water (it should taste like the sea).
• Mix green and black olives for a briny balance of flavors.
• Angel hair works best, but spaghetti or linguine can also be used.

Best Paired With

• Garlic bread or crusty baguette.
• Light white wine like Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio.
• A fresh green salad for balance.