Description
A quick and easy dish that combines zesty lemon, savory garlic, and succulent shrimp over pasta for a delicious meal.
Ingredients
- 1 pound large shrimp (peeled and deveined)
- 12 ounces spaghetti (or your preferred pasta)
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic (minced)
- Zest of 1 lemon
- Juice of 1 large lemon
- ¼ cup fresh parsley (chopped)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
- Red pepper flakes (optional, to taste)
- Grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
- Extra lemon wedges (for serving)
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to the package instructions until al dente. Reserve about 1 cup of pasta water before draining. Set the cooked pasta aside.
- Prepare the shrimp: While the pasta is cooking, season the shrimp with salt and pepper. Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the shrimp in a single layer and cook for about 2 minutes on each side, or until they turn pink and opaque. Remove the shrimp from the skillet and set them aside.
- Make the sauce: In the same skillet, add the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil and the butter. Once the butter has melted, add the minced garlic and cook for about 1 minute, stirring constantly to avoid burning the garlic. Add the lemon zest, lemon juice, and red pepper flakes (if using), and stir to combine.
- Combine the pasta and shrimp: Return the cooked shrimp to the skillet along with the cooked pasta. Toss everything together, adding a splash of the reserved pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce and help it coat the pasta.
- Finish the dish: Stir in the fresh parsley and season with additional salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes to taste. Remove the skillet from the heat and serve the pasta hot, garnished with extra parsley, grated Parmesan (if desired), and lemon wedges on the side.
Notes
For a creamy version, add heavy cream after cooking the garlic. For a gluten-free option, use gluten-free pasta.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 350mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 150mg
Keywords: shrimp pasta, lemon garlic, quick dinner, Mediterranean, seafood pasta