Description
Old Bay garlic shrimp pasta brings coastal Maryland flavors to your dining table. Succulent shrimp tossed with al dente pasta create a simple yet satisfying meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (450 g) large shrimp, peeled and deveined (tails on or off)
- 12 oz (340 g) spaghetti, linguine, or fettuccine
- 2 tbsps olive oil
- 2 tbsps unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp Old Bay seasoning
- ¼ cup (25 g) grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
- 1 tsp red pepper flakes (optional for heat)
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsps fresh parsley, chopped
- Juice of 1 lemon
- Lemon wedges
Instructions
- Pasta Preparation: Boil salted water and cook pasta until al dente, reserving one cup of starchy cooking liquid before draining.
- Shrimp Seasoning: Thoroughly coat raw shrimp with Old Bay seasoning, ensuring complete and even coverage.
- Seafood Searing: In a spacious skillet, melt olive oil and butter over medium heat. Sauté seasoned shrimp until they transform from translucent to vibrant pink, approximately 2-3 minutes per side. Remove and set aside.
- Aromatic Base: In the same skillet, sauté minced garlic and red pepper flakes, releasing their intense fragrance and developing a rich flavor foundation.
- Sauce Creation: Combine drained pasta with the aromatic base, incorporating reserved pasta liquid to craft a luxurious, smooth sauce. Splash in fresh lemon juice and fold in Parmesan, seasoning with salt and black pepper to enhance the dish’s depth.
- Final Assembly: Reintegrate seared shrimp into the pasta, gently mixing to ensure complete heat distribution and flavor melding.
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle freshly chopped parsley over the dish, accompany with lemon wedges, and optionally dust with additional Old Bay for an extra flavor punch.
Notes
- Master Pasta Water Technique: Reserve one cup of starchy pasta water before draining to create a silky, smooth sauce that helps ingredients bind perfectly.
- Perfectly Sear Shrimp: Cook shrimp exactly 2-3 minutes per side, watching color change from translucent to vibrant pink to prevent overcooking and maintain tender texture.
- Balance Seasoning Layers: Generously coat shrimp with Old Bay before cooking, then adjust final dish’s salt and pepper levels to enhance flavor complexity without overwhelming seafood.
- Customize for Dietary Needs: Swap regular pasta with gluten-free alternatives, use plant-based butter for dairy-free version, or replace shrimp with grilled chicken for protein variation.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 840 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 60 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 220 mg