Description
This Garlic Shrimp Pasta is a quick and flavorful dish featuring tender shrimp sautéed in garlic butter sauce with a hint of lemon and white wine, tossed with perfectly cooked spaghetti and fresh parsley. Perfect for a weeknight dinner or casual gathering, it combines simple ingredients for maximum taste.
Ingredients
Scale
pasta
- 8 oz spaghetti
shrimp and sauce
- 1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1/4 cup dry white wine or chicken broth
- Juice of 1/2 lemon
- Salt and black pepper to taste
garnish
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- Grated Parmesan cheese, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Cook spaghetti: Cook the spaghetti according to package instructions until al dente. Drain well, reserving about 1/2 cup of pasta water, then set aside.
- Sauté garlic and spices: In a large skillet, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and red pepper flakes, sautéing for about 1 minute until fragrant but not browned to avoid bitterness.
- Cook shrimp: Add the peeled and deveined shrimp to the skillet. Season with salt and black pepper, then cook for 2-3 minutes on each side until the shrimp turn pink and opaque. Remove shrimp from skillet and set aside.
- Deglaze skillet: Pour in the dry white wine or chicken broth along with the lemon juice into the skillet. Scrape up any flavorful bits stuck to the bottom of the pan. Let the liquid simmer for about 2 minutes to reduce slightly.
- Finish sauce: Stir in the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter until melted and the sauce becomes smooth and glossy.
- Combine shrimp and pasta: Return the cooked shrimp to the skillet and add the cooked spaghetti. Toss everything together thoroughly, adding reserved pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce for a silky consistency.
- Add parsley and serve: Stir in the chopped fresh parsley and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed. Serve immediately, optionally topped with grated Parmesan cheese.
Notes
- For a spicier dish, increase the amount of red pepper flakes according to taste.
- Use fresh shrimp for best flavor, but frozen shrimp can be used if properly thawed.
- Dry white wine adds depth; if avoiding alcohol use chicken broth as a substitute.
- Reserved pasta water helps create a smooth sauce that clings to the pasta.
- Parmesan cheese is optional but adds a delicious umami finish.
