Lemon Shrimp Pasta with Garlic (Printable)
Vibrant pasta with juicy shrimp, bright lemon, and aromatic garlic. A quick, satisfying Italian-inspired main course.
# Ingredient List:
→ 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
# Steps:
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 - While the pasta cooks, 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 to 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 comes together in the time it takes to boil pasta, making this my go to when I want something impressive but dont have hours to spend cooking.
- The combination of bright lemon, tender shrimp, and garlic creates this perfect balance that feels fancy but uses ingredients I usually have on hand.
02 -
- Do not overcook the shrimp or theyll turn rubbery I learned this the hard way when I got distracted by a phone call once.
- Reserve more pasta water than you think youll need that starchy liquid is liquid gold for creating a sauce that actually clings to the pasta instead of pooling at the bottom.
03 -
- Save a few shrimp and a sprinkle of parsley for topping each serving rather than mixing them all in it creates a more restaurant worthy presentation.
- If youre out of white wine, you can substitute chicken broth with a splash of white wine vinegar for a similar depth of flavor.