Description
Silky strands of pasta embrace succulent garlic shrimp in this Mediterranean-inspired classic. Creamy sauce and fresh herbs elevate simple ingredients into a restaurant-worthy meal you’ll savor with pure delight.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Proteins:
- 1 pound (450g) large shrimp, peeled and deveined
Pasta and Base Ingredients:
- 12 ounces (340g) pasta (linguine, spaghetti, or fettuccine)
- ½ teaspoon salt (for boiling water)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Seasoning and Flavor Enhancers:
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) heavy cream
- ½ cup (50 grams) grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Extra Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Fill a spacious pot with salted water and bring to a rolling boil. Submerge pasta and cook until achieving a tender yet firm texture. Extract and preserve a modest portion of starchy liquid before draining the noodles.
- Prepare seafood by generously coating with smoky spice blend, aromatic powder, and seasoning. Warm olive oil in a expansive skillet over intense heat. Sear shrimp until they transform into a rosy, translucent state, approximately two minutes per side. Transfer protein to a separate dish.
- Within the same cooking vessel, melt butter and introduce finely chopped garlic. Allow aromatics to release their essence for a brief moment. Pour rich cream and encourage a gentle bubbling. Incorporate sharp cheese and optional spicy flakes, stirring until a silky consistency emerges.
- Introduce cooked pasta into the velvety sauce, ensuring each strand becomes elegantly coated. Should the mixture appear overly dense, introduce reserved liquid to achieve perfect moisture. Gently reintegrate previously cooked shrimp into the creamy ensemble.
- Artfully distribute the luxurious mixture across serving plates. Embellish with verdant herb garnish and additional cheese shavings. Present immediately to capture maximum flavor and temperature.
Notes
- Pasta Water Magic: The starchy reserved pasta water acts as a secret weapon to perfectly adjust sauce consistency, helping it cling beautifully to noodles.
- Seafood Freshness Hack: Always choose fresh, deveined shrimp and pat them completely dry before seasoning to ensure a golden, crispy exterior when cooking.
- Spice Customization: Adjust red pepper flakes to control heat level or swap with smoked paprika for a deeper, smoky flavor profile that complements the creamy sauce.
- Dietary Adaptations: Swap regular pasta with gluten-free alternatives, use coconut cream for a dairy-free version, or replace shrimp with grilled chicken for protein variety.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 680
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 70g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 200mg