Description
Luscious homemade lemon garlic shrimp pasta delivers Mediterranean coastal flavors in minutes. Quick weeknight dinner promises restaurant-quality comfort for home cooks seeking simple, elegant meals.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 12 ounces (340 grams) shrimp, peeled and deveined
Grains:
- 8 ounces (226 grams) pasta (linguine or spaghetti)
Dairy and Sauce Ingredients:
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) heavy cream
- 1/4 cup (25 grams) grated Parmesan cheese
- 3 tablespoons (45 grams) butter
Seasonings and Aromatics:
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) olive oil
- 1 lemon (zested and juiced)
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Garnish:
- Fresh parsley
Instructions
- Boil pasta in salted water according to package instructions until al dente, then drain and reserve.
- Season shrimp with salt and pepper, then sear in a hot skillet with olive oil and butter over medium-high heat for 2-3 minutes per side until they turn opaque and pink.
- Transfer cooked shrimp to a separate plate, keeping them warm.
- In the same skillet, reduce heat to medium and melt remaining butter, then gently saute minced garlic for 30-45 seconds until fragrant but not browned.
- Pour heavy cream into the skillet, whisking in fresh lemon juice and zest, allowing the mixture to simmer and slightly thicken for 2-3 minutes.
- Gradually incorporate Parmesan cheese, stirring continuously until the sauce becomes smooth and creamy.
- Reintroduce seared shrimp to the sauce, gently tossing to ensure even coating.
- Add cooked pasta to the skillet, carefully mixing to combine all ingredients and heat through.
- Finish the dish by sprinkling fresh chopped parsley and additional lemon zest over the top for brightness and aroma.
- Serve immediately while the pasta is hot and sauce is creamy.
Notes
- Use fresh, large shrimp for the best texture and flavor, ensuring they are deveined and patted dry before cooking.
- Control heat carefully when sautéing shrimp to prevent overcooking, which can make them tough and rubbery.
- Substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or whole milk for a lighter version, though the sauce will be less rich.
- For a gluten-free option, replace regular pasta with zucchini noodles or gluten-free pasta alternatives.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 560 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 520 mg
- Fat: 35 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 190 mg