Description
This quick and flavorful Shrimp Pasta recipe combines al dente thick spaghetti with juicy, perfectly cooked shrimp in a creamy parmesan and lemon sauce. Ready in just 30 minutes, it’s a perfect weeknight dinner that’s both comforting and elegant.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta and Sauce
- ½ pound thick spaghetti
- 2 teaspoons fresh cracked black pepper
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 1 cup parmesan cheese freshly grated
- 1 lemon juiced
- 4 tablespoons salted butter
Shrimp
- 1 pound extra large shrimp peeled and deveined
Garnish
- fresh chopped parsley
- fresh cracked black pepper
- shredded parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Boil Pasta: Bring 4 cups of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the spaghetti and cook for 9 minutes. The pasta may not be fully cooked at this stage, which is fine as it will finish cooking later. Do not drain the pasta; reserve the pasta water for the sauce.
- Toast Pepper and Cook Garlic: Meanwhile, heat a large frying pan over medium heat. Add the cracked black pepper to the pan and roast for 2 minutes to release its aroma. Then grate the minced garlic cloves into the pan and stir, cooking until fragrant for about 1 minute.
- Add Pasta Water: Carefully add ½ cup of the reserved pasta water to the frying pan and stir well. Be cautious as the water will boil and steam upon contact.
- Prepare Cheese Mixture: In a separate bowl, combine the grated parmesan cheese with ¼ cup of pasta water and lemon juice. Stir until the cheese softens and melts slightly into a smooth mixture.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Remove the cooked spaghetti from the pasta water and add it to the frying pan. Pour in ½ cup more pasta water and a pinch of black pepper. Toss and stir for 3 minutes to finish cooking the pasta and develop the sauce.
- Cook Shrimp: Push the pasta to one side of the pan and add the butter to the empty side. Once melted, add the shrimp, cooking for 1 minute on one side, then turn and cook for another minute. Shrimp is done when it turns opaque white and reaches 145 °F in the thickest part.
- Turn Off Heat: Turn off the heat but keep the pan on the burner to retain warmth.
- Add Cheese Sauce: Pour the parmesan and lemon cheese mixture over the pasta. Stir well to evenly coat the noodles with the creamy sauce.
- Garnish: Sprinkle fresh chopped parsley, additional cracked black pepper, and shredded parmesan cheese over the pasta.
- Serve: Serve immediately. Add salt to taste as preferred.
- Store Leftovers: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Notes
- Use thick spaghetti for better texture and sauce absorption.
- Reserve pasta water as it is key to creating a silky sauce that clings to the pasta.
- Be careful when adding hot pasta water to the pan to avoid burns from splashing steam.
- Check shrimp doneness by color and internal temperature to avoid overcooking.
- You can substitute fresh parsley with basil or cilantro for a different herb flavor.
- For less salty dish, use unsalted butter and adjust salt at the end.
- Add crushed red pepper flakes if you like a bit of heat.
- Grate garlic fresh to get best flavor and aroma.
