Shrimp Scampi Pasta
This Shrimp Scampi Pasta is a quick, restaurant-style dinner with juicy shrimp, garlic, lemon, and a buttery white wine sauce that coats every strand of pasta. It’s bright, rich, and ready fast, perfect for busy weeknights or an easy date-night meal.
Ingredients
- 250 g spaghetti
For the Shrimp:
- 400 g large shrimp peeled and deveined
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 3 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 shallot finely chopped
- 120 ml dry white wine
For the Marinade:
- 2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 5 cloves garlic minced
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Place the shrimp in a bowl and add extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt, pepper, oregano, smoked paprika, and red pepper flakes. Toss well to coat. Refrigerate the shrimp for 15–20 minutes to marinate.
- In a large skillet, heat extra virgin olive oil over medium heat and sauté the marinated shrimp for 1 minute per side. Remove and set aside.
- In the same skillet, melt butter and cook the shallot until soft. Pour in the white wine and simmer for 1–2 minutes to reduce slightly.
- Return the shrimp to the skillet and cook for another 1 minute.
- Cook the spaghetti in salted boiling water until al dente, then drain and add to the cooked shrimp. Toss everything together gently until well coated in the sauce.
- Sprinkle with fresh parsley before serving.
Notes
Marinate Briefly: I find 15–20 minutes is the sweet spot, long enough to infuse flavor but short enough to keep the shrimp tender.
Choose a Crisp Wine: I like to use a dry white wine like Sauvignon Blanc because it cuts through the butter and lifts all the flavors.
Cook the Shrimp Just Right: I always do just 1 minute per side; any more and they can turn rubbery fast.
Al Dente Is Best: I prefer the pasta with a bit of bite so it doesn’t get mushy when tossed with the sauce.
Add Parsley at the End: I like to sprinkle parsley right before serving for a fresh, clean contrast to the rich sauce.
Nutrition
Calories: 685kcal | Carbohydrates: 70g | Protein: 30g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 198mg | Sodium: 1158mg | Potassium: 491mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 1803IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 127mg | Iron: 3mg