Description
Delightful shrimp spaghetti combines Mediterranean flavors with coastal elegance. Succulent prawns dance over al dente pasta, inviting home cooks to savor this simple yet sophisticated Italian-inspired classic.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (454 g) shrimp, large, peeled and deveined
- 8 oz (226 g) spaghetti
- 4 tbsps butter, divided
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 tbsps parmesan, freshly grated
- 2 tbsps parsley, fresh, chopped for garnish
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tsps all-purpose flour
- ½ tsp crushed red pepper
- ¼ tsp salt
Instructions
- Pasta Preparation: Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil, cooking spaghetti until al dente. Reserve a cup of pasta water before draining, ensuring optimal sauce consistency.
- Shrimp Searing: Ignite a large skillet over medium-high heat, melting butter until it develops a golden, fragrant shimmer. Introduce shrimp seasoned with salt and crushed red pepper flakes, cooking until they transform to a vibrant pink and become translucent, approximately 3 minutes.
- Flavor Building: Remove shrimp and retain skillet contents. Add remaining butter and minced garlic, releasing an intoxicating aroma. Deglaze with lemon juice, gradually whisking in reserved pasta water and parmesan cheese. Dust with a touch of flour to create a velvety, luxurious sauce.
- Final Assembly: Reunite spaghetti and shrimp in the skillet, gently tossing to ensure each strand is lavishly coated with the zesty, creamy sauce. Transfer to serving plates, crowning the dish with an additional sprinkle of parmesan and a confetti of fresh parsley for a vibrant finish.
Notes
- Pasta Water Magic: Reserve a cup of starchy pasta water to create a silky, emulsified sauce that helps ingredients cling perfectly to spaghetti strands.
- Shrimp Searing Secrets: Cook shrimp quickly over medium-high heat for exactly 3 minutes to achieve a vibrant pink color without becoming rubbery or overcooked.
- Butter Balance: Use butter in stages to build layers of rich, nutty flavor and create a smooth, luxurious sauce base for maximum depth.
- Garnish with Gusto: Sprinkle fresh parsley and extra parmesan just before serving to add bright, fresh notes and elevate the final presentation of the dish.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 411
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 351 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 49 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 21 g
- Cholesterol: 166 mg