Description
This Easy Shrimp Scampi recipe is a flavorful and quick dish featuring jumbo shrimp sautéed in a garlic, lemon, and white wine butter sauce. Perfect for a simple weeknight dinner or a special occasion, it combines tender shrimp with a zesty, buttery sauce that pairs beautifully with pasta or crusty bread.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Shrimp Marinade
- 1 pound jumbo shrimp (21 to 30 per pound), peeled and deveined
- Kosher salt, a pinch
- 2 1/2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
Sauce & Cooking
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 to 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes, or more to your liking
- 3 to 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup dry white wine or broth
- 1/2 lemon, zested and juiced
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Marinate the shrimp: Pat the shrimp dry and place them in a mixing bowl. Add a pinch of kosher salt, half of the minced garlic (2 1/2 cloves), and 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil. Toss well to coat the shrimp evenly. Set the mixture aside at room temperature for 20 minutes or refrigerate for 30 minutes to 1 hour to allow flavors to meld.
- Sear the shrimp: Heat 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil in a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. When the oil shimmers, add the marinated shrimp. Cook for about 1 to 1 1/2 minutes on each side until the shrimp begin to turn pink. Transfer the shrimp to a plate using a slotted spoon. It’s okay if some shrimp are slightly grey; they will finish cooking in the sauce.
- Make the sauce: In the same skillet, add the remaining minced garlic and red pepper flakes. Sauté briefly until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Pour in the dry white wine or broth and lemon juice. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook until reduced by half, approximately 3 minutes. Stir in the unsalted butter and cook until melted, swirling the pan to combine all ingredients into a smooth sauce.
- Combine the shrimp and sauce: Return the shrimp to the skillet and stir to coat them thoroughly in the sauce. Continue cooking until the shrimp are fully cooked through, about 1 minute more. Remove the skillet from heat and stir in the chopped fresh parsley and lemon zest. Adjust seasoning with more red pepper flakes if desired. Serve immediately for best flavor.
Notes
- Shop this recipe: Explore quality Mediterranean ingredients including the extra virgin olive oil used in this recipe for best authentic flavor.
- Shrimp cooks quickly; prepare any side dishes or pasta before starting the shrimp to ensure everything is ready to serve together.
- To serve with pasta: Use a long, thin pasta such as angel hair, spaghetti, capellini, spaghettini, or linguine. Consider doubling the sauce to have plenty to toss with the pasta.
