I’ve always divided recipes into one of three categories. Recipes that are interesting and cool but not really necessary for most people to know. Good recipes that a lot of people would benefit from knowing. And the must-have recipes that everyone should know how to make. And if you ask me shrimp scampi is a recipe that everyone should have in their repertoire.
The combination of tender shrimp cooked in a garlic and butter sauce tastes absolutely amazing. It’s a fairly straightforward recipe that requires only a few simple ingredients and no complicated techniques to make. And best of all the whole dish comes together in less than ten minutes.
A Quick and Easy Recipe
Many recipes promise to be quick and easy, but few are as quick and easy as classic shrimp scampi. It literally has three very simple steps.
- Sautee some garlic and red pepper flakes in olive oil and butter for 30 seconds.
- Pour in some wine and toss in the shrimp cooking both for 6 to 8 minutes.
- Finishing the dish by adding some lemon juice, parsley, salt, and pepper.
That’s it!
How to turn your shrimp scampi into a pasta dish?
Shrimp scampi is traditionally prepared in two separate ways, on its own or with pasta. And while today’s recipe is for basic shrimp scampi easily make it into a pasta dish.
First, you need to pick out a type of pasta. And while you can choose any type that you want it is most commonly done with either angel hair or fettuccine. So if you are new to making this dish then I’d stick with one of those two.
Then all you have to do is boil the pasta in some salted water until it is al dente. Add the pasta along with a ¼ cup of the pasta water to the pan during step 3. And just stir all of the ingredients together until the pasta water and the garlic butter sauce has combined and coated everything. It’s really that easy!
Tips, Tricks & Suggestions
- Since the dish comes together so quickly you will want to make sure that all ingredients are ready to go before you start cooking. So have that garlic minced, and your lemon cut in half before you turn on the heat.
- Make sure to use a dry wine for this recipe as sweet wines will make the sauce taste off. Some wines that I recommend are pinot grigio and sauvignon blanc.
- Check out our lesson on how to peel and devein shrimp if you are unfamiliar with how to do it.
- I like to keep this dish simple by serving it with a salad, and some nice crunchy bread to help soak up all that delicious scampi sauce.
Shrimp Scampi Recipe
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 8 minutes
Servings: 4
Ingredients
2 Tablespoons of olive oil
4 Tablespoons of butter
4 Garlic cloves, minced
A pinch or two of crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
½ Cup of dry white wine
1 Lb of medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
Juice from one large lemon
¼ Cup of parsley, minced
Salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Sautee the garlic and red pepper flakes: Get out a large pan or skillet and place the olive oil and butter in it. Place the pan/skillet over medium heat and melt the butter. Then toss in the garlic and pepper flakes and saute them both in the oil & butter for 30 seconds to 1 minute.
- Cook the shrimp: Pour the white wine into the pan/skillet and use a wooden spoon to mix it into the garlic butter mixture. Then toss in the shrimp and let them cook on one side undisturbed for 3 to 4 minutes.
After 3 to 4 minutes turn each shrimp over and let them continue to cook for another 3 to 4 minutes.
- Finish the dish: Turn the heat down to low, add the lemon juice and parsley, and stir everything together. Taste the sauce and add salt and pepper to your liking.
- Serve the shrimp scampi immediately and enjoy!
Shrimp Scampi Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons of olive oil
- 4 Tablespoons of butter
- 4 Garlic cloves minced
- A pinch or two of crushed red pepper flakes optional
- ½ Cup of dry white wine
- 1 Lb of medium shrimp peeled and deveined
- Juice from one large lemon
- ¼ Cup of parsley minced
- Salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Sautee the garlic and red pepper flakes: Get out a large pan or skillet and place the olive oil and butter in it. Place the pan/skillet over medium heat and melt the butter. Then toss in the garlic and pepper flakes and saute them both in the oil & butter for 30 seconds to 1 minute.
- Cook the shrimp: Pour the white wine into the pan/skillet and use a wooden spoon to mix it into the garlic butter mixture. Then toss in the shrimp and let them cook on one side undisturbed for 3 to 4 minutes. After 3 to 4 minutes turn each shrimp over and let them continue to cook for another 3 to 4 minutes.
- Finish the dish: Turn the heat down to low, add the lemon juice and parsley, and stir everything together. Taste the sauce and add salt and pepper to your liking.
- Serve the shrimp scampi immediately and enjoy!
