Description
Succulent garlic butter shrimp pasta brings Mediterranean coastal flavors to your dinner table with luxurious simplicity. Quick ingredients and seamless preparation promise a restaurant-quality meal that delights senses and satisfies hunger in mere minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta and Seafood:
- 1 lb (450 g) large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 8 oz (225 g) spaghetti, fettuccine, or linguine
Fats and Oils:
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Seasonings and Garnishes:
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- ¼ cup (30 g) grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
- Juice of ½ lemon (about 2 tablespoons)
Instructions
- Prepare a spacious pot with salted water, bringing it to a vigorous boil. Submerge pasta and cook until perfectly tender, maintaining a slight firmness. Extract and preserve a half cup of starchy liquid before draining the pasta, then set aside.
- Select a large skillet and warm olive oil with butter over medium heat. Introduce minced garlic and red pepper flakes, allowing them to release their aromatic essence without scorching, approximately 30 seconds.
- Arrange shrimp across the skillet’s surface in a single layer, seasoning with salt and pepper. Cook each side for 2-3 minutes until they transform into a vibrant pink and become translucent. Transfer cooked shrimp to a separate plate.
- Utilize the same skillet, incorporating remaining butter and a splash of reserved pasta water. Introduce fresh lemon juice, creating a gentle simmering environment.
- Transfer pasta into the skillet, thoroughly coating each strand with the silky garlic butter sauce. Reintegrate the succulent shrimp and sprinkle Parmesan cheese, gently tossing to ensure uniform distribution.
- Elevate the dish’s visual appeal by scattering freshly chopped parsley across the surface. Serve immediately, offering additional Parmesan and lemon wedges for personalized garnishing.
Notes
- Save some pasta water before draining to help create a silky, emulsified sauce that clings perfectly to the noodles.
- Use large or jumbo shrimp for the most tender and succulent texture, ensuring they’re deveined and patted dry before cooking.
- Avoid overcooking shrimp by removing them from heat as soon as they turn pink and opaque to prevent rubbery, tough meat.
- For a gluten-free version, swap regular pasta with zucchini noodles or gluten-free pasta alternatives without compromising flavor.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 455
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 500 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 43 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 26 g
- Cholesterol: 220 mg