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My Best Shrimp Pasta

A quick and delicious shrimp pasta dish that's perfect for busy nights, bursting with flavor from garlic, lemon, and shrimp.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Italian, Seafood
Calories: 450
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Pasta Ingredients
  • 8 oz spaghetti or your choice of pasta
  • 1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 cup white wine (optional) Adds sophistication to the dish
  • 1 whole lemon (zest and juice)
  • 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes For a little kick
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Parmesan cheese (optional) For serving

Method
 

Cooking the Pasta
  1. Boil a pot of salted water. Add pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve about 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
Sautéing
  1. Heat olive oil over medium heat in a large skillet. Add minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
  2. Toss in the shrimp, season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Cook until shrimp are pink and opaque, roughly 3-4 minutes.
Adding Wine and Lemon
  1. Add white wine to the skillet and let it simmer for a couple of minutes. Stir in lemon zest and juice.
Combining with Pasta
  1. Toss cooked pasta into the skillet, adding reserved pasta water to create a silky sauce. Mix well to coat the pasta.
Finishing and Serving
  1. Stir in chopped parsley and adjust seasoning if needed. Plate and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese if desired.

Notes

Shrimp substitutes: No shrimp? Use scallops or chicken. If the pasta looks too dry, add more reserved pasta water for moisture. For extra zing, top with fresh basil.