Lemon Shrimp Pasta with Garlic (Printable)
Vibrant pasta featuring juicy shrimp, zesty lemon, and aromatic garlic. A quick, satisfying Italian-inspired meal.
# What You'll Need:
→ Seafood
01 - 1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined
→ Pasta
02 - 12 oz linguine or spaghetti
→ Aromatics
03 - 4 cloves garlic, finely minced
04 - Zest of 1 lemon
→ Sauce
05 - 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
06 - 1/4 cup dry white wine
07 - 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
→ Vegetables & Herbs
08 - 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
→ Seasoning
09 - 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional
10 - Salt and black pepper to taste
→ Garnish
11 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, optional
12 - Lemon wedges
# How to Make It:
01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta.
02 - Pat the shrimp dry and season lightly with salt and black pepper.
03 - In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the shrimp and sauté for 2-3 minutes per side, until pink and just cooked through. Remove shrimp and set aside.
04 - In the same skillet, reduce heat to medium. Add garlic and red pepper flakes; cook for 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to brown the garlic.
05 - Deglaze the skillet with white wine, scraping up any browned bits. Let it simmer for 2 minutes.
06 - Add lemon juice and zest, stirring to combine.
07 - Return the shrimp to the skillet, then add drained pasta. Toss everything together, adding a splash of reserved pasta water as needed to create a silky sauce.
08 - Stir in chopped parsley. Adjust seasoning with salt and black pepper to taste.
09 - Serve immediately, garnished with grated Parmesan and lemon wedges if desired.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The sauce creates itself as you cook, clinging to each strand of pasta with just the right balance of garlic and lemon without any fussy techniques.
- Its my go-to for impressing dinner guests without breaking a sweat, since it comes together in about the same time it takes to boil water and cook pasta.
02 -
- Never rinse your pasta after draining or youll wash away the precious starch that helps the sauce cling to every strand.
- The shrimp will continue cooking slightly after removing from heat, so its better to pull them from the pan when they look almost but not completely done.
03 -
- Cook the pasta 1-2 minutes less than the package directions suggest, then finish cooking it directly in the sauce to allow it to absorb more flavor.
- Keep a chunk of Parmesan rind in your freezer to toss into the sauce while it simmers, removing before serving for an incredible depth of flavor without any extra effort.