Key ingredients in garlic shrimp pasta
Frequently asked questions
The citrusy, juicy flavor impresses everyone. Just one bite will make your heart sing! We love it so much, we’ve featured a similar recipe in our new cookbook. It’s fast and easy. This one comes together in under 30 minutes, making it great for weeknight dinners or easy entertaining with a dinner party. Come, let’s make it!
Pasta: We like using spaghetti here, but you can also use other long noodles like linguine or bucatini. Use whole wheat pasta for Mediterranean diet, or gluten-free or legume pasta for gluten-free. Shrimp: Use deveined medium shrimp for this recipe (they may be labeled 41 to 50 count), either shelled or tail on. Use either fresh or frozen; we tend to find fresh shrimp is slightly better. Prioritize wild caught shrimp if possible. Old Bay: Old Bay is the flavor maker here. It’s a seasoning blend invented in Maryland that’s often used to season seafood, like in a shrimp boil. Butter and garlic: Make sure to use fresh garlic, not jarred or packaged. Salted butter brings the best flavor to sauteing shrimp, but you can substitute olive oil if desired. Grated Parmesan cheese: Look for grated cheese, which has a powdery texture that melds into the dish. Substitute another hard cheese like Pecorino Romano if desired. Lemon juice and zest: A fresh lemon is key to the zippy flavor; avoid bottled juice.
Step 1: Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and boil until al dente). Reserve about ½ cup pasta water, then drain the pasta and return it to the pot. Toss with a little olive oil if the sauce is not yet ready.
Make a green salad like arugula salad, chopped salad, kale salad, apple salad, or strawberry salad Try a quick vegetable like baked asparagus or roasted green beans Mix up a veggie sauté like ultimate sauteed vegetables, peas with lemon, or sauteed kale
5 from 2 reviews Other long pasta shapes work, like linguine or bucatini. You could even swap in short pastas like rigatoni, penne, or bow ties. Use olive oil for cooking instead of butter if desired. For dairy-free, omit the Parmesan cheese and add more salt to taste. Pecorino Romano is another aged cheese that works well; its flavor is slightly saltier and stronger than Parmesan.
