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This shrimp scampimakes for a super easy family meal, but it’s fancy enough for a nice dinner party. Pair this Angel Hair with Lemon Shrimp Scampi with the toast.
I posted yesterday, plus the green beans I’ll post soon (sorry for the tease) and you’ll have yourself a very impressive meal; making it look like you’ve slaved away for hours in the kitchen.
Nope! Instead you can focus on the details and make sure to pick out some good tunes for your party; something that will fill the air if you say something embarrassing (I was fairly socially awkward and shy for a good part of my life and I’ve learned to fill that space with sayings like, “what time is it,” and “who cut the cheese” or “where’s my hot dog” – I shouldn’t post inside jokes because now I’m having one of those socially awkward moments…… I could use a little music right now.
Ingredients for the Shrimp Scampi:
1 Tbsp salt + drizzle of olive oil for boiling water
3/4 pound angel hair pasta (or your favorite pasta)
3 Tbsp butter
3 Tbsp olive oil
4 cloves garlic, minced (about 1 1/2 Tbsp)
1 lb large shrimp; peeled and deveined; 16-20 or 21-25 per pound would work
1 tsp salt for shrimp
1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1/3 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
1/2 Tbsp grated lemon zest (from 1/2 lemon)
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (about 1.5 to 2 lemons)
1/8 tsp hot red pepper flakes
A note on Peeling and Deveining Shrimp:
This takes the longest amount of time; you can buy shrimp pre-peeled and deveined, but don’t buy them pre-cooked. That’s a NO GO. Back to deveining; this creates a pretty butterflied shrimp and gets the nasty gunk out that you can’t see until you cut the back of the shrimp. Make a single slice down the back of the shrimp, then rinse. Pat dry shrimp beforesautéingor they may splatter.
How to Make Shrimp Scampi:
(tip: have all of your ingredients prepped and ready to go since the pasta cooks quickly):
1. Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil, add 1 Tbsp salt and drizzle water with olive oil (keeps pasta from sticking). Add 3/4 lb pasta and cook according to directions on the package. Angel hair only takes 5 minutes.
2. In another, heavy-bottomed skillet, melt 3 Tbsp butter with 3 Tbsp olive oil over medium/high heat. Add pressed garlic and saute 1 minute.
3.Add shrimp in a single layer and sprinkle with 1 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper. Saute until shrimp turn pink (about 2 min each side); don’t overcook or shrimp will turn rubbery.
4. Remove shrimp from heat and mix in the 1/2 Tbsp lemon zest, 1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley, 1/4 cup lemon juice and 1/8 tsp red pepper flakes.
5. Pour shrimp over the cooked and drained pasta and toss to combine.
Credits: Recipe adapted from Ina Garten’s Linguine with Shrimp Scampi.
Angel Hair with Lemon Shrimp Scampi Recipe
Author: Natasha of NatashasKitchen.com
This shrimp pasta makes for a super easy family meal, but it's fancy enough for a nice dinner party.
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Prep Time: 20 minutes mins
Cook Time: 10 minutes mins
Total Time: 30 minutes mins
Ingredients
Servings: 4 -5
- 1 Tbsp salt + drizzle of olive oil for boiling water
- 3/4 pound angel hair pasta, or your favorite pasta
- 3 Tbsp unsalted butter
- 3 Tbsp olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced (about 1 1/2 Tbsp)
- 1 lb large shrimp; peeled and deveined; 16-20 or 21-25 per pound would work
- 1 tsp salt for shrimp
- 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 1/3 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
- 1 Tbsp Grated Zest, from 1/2 lemon
- 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice, about 1.5 to 2 lemons
- 1/8 tsp hot red pepper flakes
Instructions
Tip: have all of your ingredients prepped and ready to go since the pasta cooks quickly!
Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil, add 1 Tbsp salt and drizzle water with olive oil (keeps pasta from sticking). Add 3/4 lb pasta and cook according to directions on the package. Angel hair is done in 5 minutes.
In another, heavy-bottomed skillet, melt 3 Tbsp butter with 3 Tbsp olive oil over medium/high heat. Add garlic and saute 1 minute.
Add shrimp in a single layer and sprinkle with 1 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper. Saute until shrimp turn pink (about 2 min each side); don't overcook or shrimp will turn rubbery.
Remove shrimp from heat and mix in the lemon zest, chopped parsley, lemon juice and red pepper flakes.
Pour over the cooked and drained pasta and toss to combine.
- Full Nutrition Label
- Nutrition Disclosure
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Italian
Keyword: Angel Hair with Lemon Shrimp Scampi
Skill Level: Medium
Cost to Make: $$
Natasha Kravchuk
Welcome to my kitchen! I am Natasha, the blogger behind Natasha's Kitchen (since 2009). My husband and I run this blog together and share only our best, family approved and tested recipes with YOU. Thanks for stopping by! We are so happy you're here.
Read more posts by Natasha
FAQs
Scampi sauce.
In this garlic shrimp scampi, the sauce is made with a bit of butter, olive oil, white wine, garlic, red pepper flakes, and lemon juice.
What is a substitute for lemon juice in shrimp scampi? ›
1. Lime juice. Lime juice is the best substitute for lemon juice, as it can be used as a one-to-one replacement and has a very similar taste and acidity level ( 5 ). In fact, when canning or preserving food, it's the ideal substitute for lemon juice because it has a similar pH level.
How do you thicken up scampi sauce? ›
Add Cornstarch or Flour: Mix a slurry of cornstarch or flour with water or broth until smooth, then gradually stir it into the sauce while simmering until desired thickness is reached. Be sure to cook the sauce for a few minutes after adding the slurry to remove any raw taste of the starch.
Why is my shrimp scampi dry? ›
Your shrimp scampi is probably dry because the shrimp cooked too long and dried out. Shrimp go from raw to overcooked fast. Watch the shrimp as they cook, they only need about two minutes.
What is creamy scampi sauce made of? ›
The Sauce
- Heavy cream. This thickens your sauce and adds a delicious creamy dimension to the dish.
- Herb Roasted Tomatoes. ...
- White wine. ...
- Organic chicken stock. ...
- Parmesan cheese. ...
- Cajun seasoning blend. ...
- Garlic. ...
- Freshly-squeezed lemon juice.
What is proper scampi made from? ›
In most countries, especially Italy, scampi means the peeled tail of pretty much any kind of prawn but in the UK it refers to the meat of just one special prawn: the langoustine. Langoustine is a small lobster found in the colder waters of Scotland, Ireland and Norway.
What does soaking shrimp in lemon juice do? ›
When you add acid (lemon juice) to seafood (shrimp), the acid immediately attacks the proteins, producing an effect akin to cooking. It is NOT cooking, but it's similar in effect. If you mix excellent seafood and vegetables and herbs and such with acid, stir, and wait about 30 minutes in the fridge, you have ceviche.
Should you put lemon on shrimp before cooking? ›
Here are some reasons why you might want to consider using lemon juice when cooking shrimp:
- Flavor Enhancement: Lemon juice adds a bright and citrusy flavor to the shrimp, which can complement and enhance the natural sweetness of the seafood. ...
- Tenderizing Effect: The acidity in lemon juice can help tenderize the shrimp.
Does soaking shrimp in lemon juice cook it? ›
While citrus juice has antimicrobial properties, it doesn't fully “cook” the crustacean in the same way as, say, poaching. Like sushi, ceviche is totally safe as long as the shrimp is fresh and free of any harmful bacteria or parasites.
Why is my scampi mushy? ›
Undercook and they'll be mushy and translucent; overcook and they'll be rubbery and nearly inedible. The best way to tell when shrimp are cooked through is to look for visual cues: “Watch for the shrimp to curl and turn opaque,” says Kendra.
Scampi are tiny, lobster-like crustaceans with pale pink shells (also called langoustines). Italian cooks in the United States swapped shrimp for scampi, but kept both names. Thus the dish was born, along with inevitable variations.
What not to do when cooking shrimp? ›
- Mistake #1: Buying Shrimp With the Heads Still On.
- Mistake #2: Not Deveining Your Shrimp.
- Mistake #3: Thawing Improperly.
- Mistake #4: Overcooking.
- Mistake #5: Throwing Away the Shells.
What is the best tasting shrimp? ›
Pink shrimp are some of the tastiest shrimp you can find, mild and sweet without the distinctive ammonia taste some of the brown and white shrimp have. Just don't expect a vibrantly hued patch of shrimp at the market—pink shrimp can range from white to gray in color.
What is black stuff in scampi? ›
It is digestive tract. It is normally colorless if shrimp are not fed for 2~3 days. If it is black, it means it is filled with digested excrement (poop). So yes, you are eating shrimp along with its poop, unless you remove the blank line.
What is scampi sauce made of Olive Garden? ›
What is Olive Garden Scampi Sauce Made Of? The main ingredients of this sauce are butter, onion, garlic, white wine, chicken stock, and herbs.
What does scampi sauce mean? ›
scam·pi ˈskam-pē ˈskäm- plural scampi. : a usually large shrimp. also : large shrimp prepared with a garlic-flavored sauce.
What makes a scampi a scampi? ›
“Scampi” is the Italian word for langoustine, a type of crustacean that's common in Europe (scampi are also called Norway lobsters and Dublin Bay prawns) and is much bigger than even jumbo shrimp that we're used to eating here in the U.S. In Italy, a quick sauté in butter, olive oil and garlic (and sometimes white wine ...
What's the difference between scampi and shrimp scampi? ›
Scampi are tiny, lobster-like crustaceans with pale pink shells (also called langoustines). Italian cooks in the United States swapped shrimp for scampi, but kept both names.