Description
Ina Garten’s Shrimp Scampi is a classic, flavorful dish featuring tender, juicy shrimp sautéed in a garlic and lemon butter sauce, tossed with al dente linguine or spaghetti. Enhanced with fresh parsley and optional hints of white wine and red pepper flakes, this recipe is perfect for an elegant yet easy-to-make dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Shrimp and Sauce
- 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- Zest of 1 lemon
- Juice of 1 lemon
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 1/4 cup dry white wine (optional)
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
Pasta
- Cooked linguine or spaghetti
Garnish
- Lemon wedges, for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the linguine or spaghetti and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water, then drain the pasta and set aside.
- Sauté Garlic: In a large skillet, heat the olive oil and 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and red pepper flakes if using. Sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
- Cook Shrimp: Increase the heat to medium-high and add the shrimp to the skillet. Season with salt and black pepper. Cook the shrimp for 2 to 3 minutes until they turn pink and are almost cooked through.
- Add Wine and Simmer: Pour in the white wine if using, and bring to a simmer. Let it cook for an additional 2 minutes to reduce slightly and finish cooking the shrimp.
- Finish Sauce: Stir in the lemon juice, lemon zest, and the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter until melted into a silky sauce.
- Toss Pasta with Sauce: Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss well to coat the noodles in the sauce. If the mixture looks dry, add reserved pasta water a little at a time until the desired consistency is reached.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from heat and stir in chopped parsley. Serve the shrimp scampi immediately over the pasta, garnished with lemon wedges and extra parsley if desired.
Notes
- For a spicier scampi, increase the red pepper flakes to your taste.
- If you prefer a non-alcoholic version, simply omit the white wine and use a splash of chicken broth or pasta water.
- Use fresh shrimp for the best texture and flavor.
- Reserve some pasta water to adjust the sauce consistency perfectly.
- Serve immediately to enjoy the shrimp at their most tender.
Keywords: Shrimp Scampi, Ina Garten, garlic shrimp, lemon pasta, easy Italian seafood recipe, shrimp dinner, pasta with shrimp, lemon garlic sauce