Shrimp Fra Diavolo

According to Italian cooking maven, Lidia Bastianich, Fra Diavolo ("Brother Devil") is a spicy tomato-based seafood sauce that was created by Italian immigrants in NYC at the turn of the 20th century. This is my version, which pretty much sticks to the basics except I serve it over rice instead of pasta.

Ingredients:
2 lbs. large shrimp, shelled & deveined
1/3 cup olive oil
6 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup chopped red onion (optional)
6 medium-large ripe tomatoes, chopped
3 tbsp. tomato paste
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tbsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1/2 tsp. ground oregano (or 2 tsp. fresh, chopped)
1/4 cup white wine
1 tbsp. chopped fresh parsley
1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes (or to taste)
Fresh basil leaves for garnish
Steamed white rice or pasta

1. Heat the olive oil over high heat in a saute pan and add the shrimp. Saute until the shrimp is lightly browned and just cooked through. Remove to a plate and set aside.

2. In the same pan, add the red onion and garlic and saute until the onions are soft. Add the chopped tomatoes, tomato paste, salt, sugar, black pepper, oregano, and white wine. Simmer for 10 minutes until tomatoes are soft. 

3. Add the fresh parsley and red peppers flakes and stir to combine. Add the shrimp, bring to a boil, then remove from heat. 

4. Serve the shrimp over rice or pasta and garnish with fresh basil. 

Gil, chopping the tomatoes. 

Olive oil, sugar, red pepper flakes, oregano, black pepper, and kosher salt.

Saute the shrimp until lightly browned; remove and set aside.

In the same pan, saute the garlic and red onion (if using). 

Add the tomatoes, tomato paste, salt, sugar, black pepper, oregano, and white wine. 

Simmer the sauce for 10 minutes or until the tomatoes have softened. 

Add the fresh parsley, red pepper flakes, and shrimp. 

Serve the shrimp over rice or pasta and garnish with fresh basil.