Description
Savory shrimp scampi brings the taste of Italian coastal kitchens right to your dinner table, delivering a quick and delicious meal that makes your weeknight cooking feel like a restaurant experience. Garlic-infused butter, zesty lemon, and perfectly sautéed shrimp come together in a delightful sauce that pairs wonderfully with pasta or crusty bread.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 1 lb large shrimp
Fats and Oils:
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Aromatics and Seasonings:
- 5 garlic cloves
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- Juice of 1 lemon
- Zest of 1 lemon
- ¼ cup chicken broth or seafood stock
- Salt
- Black pepper
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- Freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 8 oz linguine or spaghetti
Instructions
- Pat 1 lb shrimp dry after thawing. Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper across each piece.
- Boil 8 oz linguine in salted water until al dente. Drain, keeping ½ cup pasta water aside for potential sauce adjustment.
- Melt 1 tablespoon butter with 1 tablespoon olive oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium heat at 350°F. Add 5 minced garlic cloves and ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes, sautéing for exactly 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Arrange shrimp in a single layer across the skillet. Cook 2-3 minutes per side until they transform completely pink and curl slightly.
- Pour 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 1 teaspoon lemon zest, and ¼ cup chicken broth into the pan. Let simmer for 1 minute at medium heat.
- Swirl remaining 2 tablespoons butter into the sauce, creating a glossy, rich coating for your shrimp.
- Combine cooked pasta with shrimp if desired, using reserved pasta water to adjust sauce consistency. Alternatively, plate shrimp separately.
- Sprinkle 2 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley over the dish. Top with grated Parmesan cheese if you prefer extra richness.
Notes
- Dry shrimp thoroughly before cooking to ensure they sear instead of steam, creating a delicious golden exterior.
- Use fresh garlic for the best flavor and avoid burning by watching the skillet carefully during sauteing.
- When cooking shrimp, resist the urge to move them around and let them develop a nice caramelized edge by staying still in the pan.
- For a lighter version, swap butter with olive oil and serve over zucchini noodles to make the dish lower in calories and carbohydrates.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Sautéed
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 255 kcal
- Sugar: 0.5 g
- Sodium: 330 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 145 mg