Description
This Garlic Shrimp Pasta is a quick and flavorful weeknight dinner featuring tender shrimp sautéed with garlic and red pepper flakes, tossed with al dente spaghetti, fresh parsley, lemon juice, and Parmesan cheese. Ready in just 25 minutes, it combines simple ingredients for a deliciously satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 8 oz (about 225 g) spaghetti
Shrimp and Sauce
- 1 lb (about 450 g) large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Finishing Touches
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
Instructions
- Prepare the shrimp: Peel and devein the shrimp if not already done. Season them generously with salt and black pepper to enhance their natural flavor.
- Cook the spaghetti: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the spaghetti and cook until al dente according to package instructions, usually about 8-10 minutes. Before draining, reserve about 1/2 cup of pasta water to adjust sauce consistency later.
- Cook the shrimp: In a large skillet over medium heat, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Add the seasoned shrimp and cook until they turn pink and opaque, approximately 2-3 minutes per side. Remove shrimp from skillet and set aside.
- Sauté garlic and red pepper flakes: In the same skillet, add the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Add the minced garlic and red pepper flakes and sauté for about 1-2 minutes until fragrant but not burnt, stirring frequently to prevent burning.
- Toss spaghetti with sauce: Add the cooked spaghetti to the skillet with the garlic and red pepper oil, tossing to coat the pasta evenly. If the mixture seems dry, add reserved pasta water a little at a time until desired consistency is reached.
- Combine shrimp and finish: Return the cooked shrimp to the skillet. Add lemon juice and chopped parsley, tossing everything together to blend the flavors well.
- Serve: Plate the pasta and garnish with additional fresh parsley and grated Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately while hot and enjoy.
Notes
- You can adjust the amount of red pepper flakes based on your preferred spice level.
- Reserve pasta water is key to getting the perfect sauce consistency, so don’t forget to save some before draining.
- For extra richness, you can add a tablespoon of butter when tossing the pasta with the sauce.
- If you prefer, substitute linguine or fettuccine for the spaghetti.
- Fresh lemon juice brightens the dish – avoid bottled lemon juice for best flavor.
