Garlic shrimp pasta is a quick and flavorful dish that combines tender shrimp with a garlicky, buttery sauce served over your favorite pasta. Here’s a simple recipe to make garlic shrimp pasta:
Ingredients:
- 8 ounces (about 2 cups) of your favorite pasta (e.g., linguine, spaghetti, or fettuccine)
- 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (adjust to your spice preference)
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- Grated Parmesan cheese (for garnish)
Instructions:
1. Cook the Pasta:
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to the package instructions until it’s al dente. Reserve about 1/2 cup of pasta cooking water before draining. This water can be used to adjust the sauce consistency later.
2. Prepare the Shrimp:
- Season the shrimp with salt and black pepper.
3. Sauté the Shrimp:
- In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the seasoned shrimp and cook for about 1-2 minutes per side, or until they turn pink and opaque. Remove the cooked shrimp from the skillet and set them aside.
4. Make the Garlic Butter Sauce:
- In the same skillet, add the minced garlic and red pepper flakes. Sauté for about 1 minute, or until the garlic becomes fragrant. Be careful not to brown the garlic too much.
- Add the butter to the skillet and let it melt, combining it with the garlic.
5. Combine Shrimp and Sauce:
- Return the cooked shrimp to the skillet, stirring to coat them with the garlic butter sauce.
6. Add Lemon and Parsley:
- Squeeze the juice of one lemon into the skillet and add chopped fresh parsley. Stir to combine and heat everything through.
7. Toss with Pasta:
- Add the cooked pasta to the skillet with the shrimp and sauce. Toss everything together to combine. If the mixture is too dry, you can add a little reserved pasta cooking water to reach your desired consistency.
8. Garnish and Serve:
- Garnish with grated Parmesan cheese and additional fresh parsley.
9. Serve Hot:
- Serve your garlic shrimp pasta hot, with extra lemon wedges and grated Parmesan cheese on the side.
This garlic shrimp pasta is a delightful and satisfying dish that’s perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or a special occasion. Enjoy the wonderful combination of garlicky shrimp and pasta!
