Description
Creamy garlic shrimp pasta brings Mediterranean coastal charm to dinner tables with its luscious blend of tender shrimp and silky sauce. Sophisticated yet simple, this dish delivers restaurant-quality flavor that welcomes you to savor each luxurious bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 lb (450 g) large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 12 ounces (340 g) spaghetti or linguine
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Seasonings and Flavor Enhancers:
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- ½ cup dry white wine (or chicken broth)
- ¼ cup fresh lemon juice (about 1 lemon)
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Finishing Ingredients:
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
- Lemon wedges, for serving
Instructions
- Boil the pasta in a large pot of salted water according to package directions until al dente. Drain thoroughly, preserving a small portion of starchy cooking liquid for later use.
- Prepare a large skillet by heating olive oil and butter over medium temperature. Carefully introduce shrimp, cooking each side until they transform into a vibrant pink hue and become translucent, approximately 2-3 minutes per side. Transfer cooked shrimp to a separate plate.
- Without cleaning the skillet, melt remaining butter and introduce minced garlic and red pepper flakes. Toast aromatics for roughly 60 seconds, ensuring garlic does not burn, releasing its rich fragrance throughout the pan.
- Deglaze the skillet by pouring chicken broth, meticulously scraping any caramelized bits from the bottom. Allow liquid to simmer and reduce, concentrating the underlying flavors for 2-3 minutes.
- Incorporate heavy cream, seasoning with salt and black pepper. Gently simmer the sauce, allowing it to thicken and develop a luxurious consistency for approximately 3-4 minutes.
- Return shrimp to the skillet, introducing the drained pasta. Thoroughly coat each strand and seafood morsel with the creamy garlic sauce, adding reserved pasta water if needed to achieve desired sauce consistency.
- Finish the dish by removing from heat and garnishing with freshly chopped parsley. Optional: Sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese for an additional layer of savory complexity.
Notes
- Always use fresh, high-quality shrimp for maximum flavor and tender texture.
- Reserve pasta water before draining to help create a silky, clingy sauce that perfectly coats the noodles.
- Quickly cook shrimp to prevent rubbery texture, watching for the pink and opaque color change.
- Be careful not to burn garlic, as it turns bitter and can ruin the entire sauce’s delicate flavor profile.
- Adjust cream sauce thickness with reserved pasta water for ideal consistency.
- Gluten-free option: Replace regular pasta with zucchini noodles or gluten-free pasta alternatives.
- Dairy-free modification: Substitute heavy cream with coconut milk or cashew cream for a lighter version.
- Low-carb alternative: Use spiralized vegetables or shirataki noodles instead of traditional pasta.
- Enhance protein by adding additional seafood like scallops or small chunks of white fish.
- Customize heat levels by adjusting red pepper flake quantity to suit personal spice preferences.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 525
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 57 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 200 mg