Imagine diving into a plate of succulent shrimp bathed in a luxurious garlic-butter sauce that'll make your taste buds dance with joy! This Classic Shrimp Scampi recipe is your ticket to transforming an ordinary weeknight dinner into a gourmet Italian feast. With just a handful of ingredients and minimal cooking time, you'll create a restaurant-worthy dish that looks and tastes like you've trained in a professional kitchen. Get ready to impress your family and friends with this quick, delicious, and utterly irresistible seafood sensation!
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 10 mins
Total Time: 20 mins
Cuisine: Italian
Serves: 4 servings
Ingredients
- 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1/2 cup dry white wine
- 1 lemon, juiced
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped for garnish
- Cooked pasta or bread for serving
Instructions
- Begin by preparing your ingredients. Ensure the shrimp are peeled and deveined, and have the garlic minced and ready. Juice the lemon and chop the fresh parsley for garnish.
- In a large skillet, melt 4 tablespoons of unsalted butter over medium heat. Allow the butter to melt completely and start to bubble slightly, but do not let it brown.
- Add the minced garlic to the skillet and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
- Sprinkle in 1/4 teaspoon of red pepper flakes to the garlic and butter mixture, stirring well to combine and infuse the flavors.
- Pour in 1/2 cup of dry white wine, stirring to deglaze the pan and scrape up any bits that may have stuck to the bottom. Let the wine simmer for about 2-3 minutes to reduce slightly.
- Add the shrimp to the skillet, seasoning with salt and pepper to taste. Cook the shrimp for about 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they turn pink and opaque.
- Once the shrimp are cooked, squeeze the juice of 1 lemon over the shrimp and stir to combine, allowing the flavors to meld for another minute.
- Remove the skillet from the heat and sprinkle chopped fresh parsley over the shrimp scampi for garnish.
- Serve the shrimp scampi immediately over cooked pasta or with crusty bread to soak up the delicious sauce.
Tips
- Choose the Right Shrimp: Use large, fresh shrimp for the best texture and flavor. Ensure they're properly peeled and deveined before cooking.
- Don't Overcook the Shrimp: Watch carefully and remove from heat as soon as they turn pink and opaque. Overcooked shrimp become tough and rubbery.
- Use High-Quality Ingredients: A good dry white wine and fresh garlic make a significant difference in the final taste.
- Control Your Heat: Keep the heat at medium to prevent burning the garlic and butter. The key is to create a fragrant, golden base for your sauce.
- Serve Immediately: Shrimp scampi is best enjoyed hot and fresh, right out of the pan. Pair with pasta or crusty bread to soak up the delicious sauce.
- Optional Flavor Boosters: Consider adding a splash of fresh lemon zest or a sprinkle of extra red pepper flakes for more complexity.
Nutrition Facts
Calories: 161kcal
Carbohydrates: g
Protein: g
Fat: g
Saturated Fat: 7g
Cholesterol: 110mg
