Description
Whipping up lemon garlic shrimp and asparagus takes just 20 minutes and delivers a fresh, zesty dinner that’ll make your taste buds dance. Sizzling shrimp nestled against crisp asparagus spears create a simple yet delicious meal perfect for busy weeknights.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Proteins:
- 1 lb large shrimp
Vegetables:
- 1 bunch asparagus
- 3 cloves garlic
Seasonings and Aromatics:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 lemon
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley
Instructions
- Thoroughly rinse 1 lb large shrimp under cold water, then meticulously dry each piece with paper towels to ensure crisp searing.
- Carefully trim the woody ends from 1 bunch asparagus and slice into 2-inch segments for uniform cooking.
- Finely mince 3 garlic cloves into tiny, aromatic pieces using a sharp knife.
- Place a large skillet over medium-high heat and pour 2 tbsp olive oil, allowing it to shimmer and heat for 1-2 minutes.
- Toss minced garlic into the hot skillet, stirring continuously for 30 seconds until its fragrance becomes pronounced.
- Arrange 1 lb shrimp in a single, uncrowded layer across the skillet, ensuring each piece touches the surface directly.
- Cook shrimp for 2-3 minutes on the first side, watching them transform from translucent to soft pink with gentle curling edges.
- Swiftly flip each shrimp and continue cooking for another 1-2 minutes until they become completely opaque and tender.
- Introduce asparagus pieces to the skillet, gently tossing them with shrimp for 2-3 minutes to achieve a crisp-tender texture.
- Squeeze juice from 1 whole lemon evenly across the skillet, coating shrimp and asparagus with bright, citrusy flavor.
- Sprinkle ½ tsp salt and ¼ tsp black pepper across the mixture, distributing seasoning uniformly.
- Remove skillet from heat and transfer contents to a serving plate, maintaining the dish’s warmth.
- Chop 2 tbsp fresh parsley and scatter over the shrimp and asparagus as a vibrant, herbal finishing touch.
Notes
- Pat shrimp completely dry to ensure a perfect sear and prevent steaming in the pan.
- Use medium-high heat to create a nice golden color on shrimp without overcooking them.
- Fresh asparagus works best – look for bright green, firm spears with tight tips for the most tender texture.
- Gluten-free and low-carb diets can enjoy this recipe exactly as written, making it a versatile meal option.
- Prep Time: 7 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Category: Sautéed
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 168 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 372 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7.3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 4 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 145 mg