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garlic shrimp pasta recipe.
4.91 from 20 votes

Garlic Shrimp Pasta

Rika
This garlic shrimp pasta is inexpensive to make for a weeknight dinner but also elegant enough to serve for a romantic date night or a special occasion. 
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American, Italian, world
Servings 6 small
Calories 492 kcal

Equipment

  • a large pot
  • a deep skillet

Ingredients
 

  • 1 pound shrimp, (deveined, peeled, tail-on) - pat dry with paper towels.
  • tablespoons finely minced garlic, (divided)
  • 1 tablespoon + 2 teaspoons Old Bay seasoning , (divided)
  • tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter , (divided)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 12 oz dried spaghetti
  • ¼ cup finely minced shallots
  • ¼ cup dry white wine, (pinot grigio or sauvignon blanc)
  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • ¼ cup chopped parsley, (and more for serving)
  • ½ cup freshly shredded parmesan cheese, (and more for serving)
  • salt and black pepper, (to taste)

Instructions
 

  • In a large pot, bring salted water to a boil (see notes). Add pasta, and cook according to the product packaging until al dente.  Reserve at least ½ cup of pasta water for later use. 
  • In a bowl, combine fresh shrimp with 2 teaspoons of Old Bay Seasoning and lemon juice. Mix well. 
  • In a large skillet over medium-high heat, melt 1 tablespoon of butter and add 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Cook ½ tablespoon of minced garlic just until fragrant.
  • Add shrimp and cook until it's pink. Remove the shrimp and place it on a plate, then set it aside. 
  • In the same skillet on medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons of butter, and cook shallots until translucent. Add 1½ tablespoons of minced garlic and cook until it's fragrant. 
  • Add white wine and scrape up any crispy bits from the bottom of the pan. Bring to a simmer until the wine is reduced to about a tablespoon. 
  • Add heavy cream, parmesan cheese, and 1 tablespoon of Old Bay seasoning(see notes). Stir and let the cheese melt. Add cooked shrimp and parsley, then stir to combine.
  • Lower the heat to a low setting, add the cooked pasta, and toss to coat.
  • Add some of the reserved pasta water to loosen the sauce if needed. Adjust the seasoning with more Old Bay Seasoning, heavy cream, salt, and/or black pepper if necessary. Turn off the heat and serve with extra parmesan cheese and fresh chopped parsley.

Notes

How to manage the amount of salt in your food. Since you'll most likely be using Old Bay seasoning you bought from the store, and you might not be sure how salty it is, it's a good idea to start with a small amount of Old Bay Seasoning and then add more as needed to suit your taste.
For example, instead of using 1 tablespoon of Old Bay Seasoning (which is the same as 3 teaspoons) to season the pasta, you can start with 1-2 teaspoons first then add more add more Old Bay seasoning in ¼ teaspoon increments as needed.
Salted Water. In this recipe, I use 1 tablespoon of coarse kosher salt per 12 cups of water to cook pasta. 
Variations. 
  • Creamier but Lighter in Flavor Old Bay Pasta. If you want to make this pasta creamier but lighter in flavor, use ¾ cup of heavy cream instead of ½ cup of heavy cream. This will make this pasta more kid-friendly. 
  • Creamier, Saucier, and Bolder in Flavor Old Bay Pasta. Use at least ¾ cup of heavy cream and at least  ½ cup of pasta water instead of ½ cup of heavy cream. You also need to increase the amount of Old Bay seasoning that goes into the recipe until it reaches the desired result.
Old Bay Seasoning. If you can't find Old Bay seasoning, feel free to substitute it with Cajun seasoning.
Garlic. Cook the garlic just until fragrant. Do not burn!
Storing. Keep the leftover garlic shrimp pasta in an airtight container.  If properly stored, this pasta lasts up to 3 days in the fridge or up to 3 months in the freezer. 
Reheating. Place a single serving of shrimp pasta in a microwave-safe bowl. Drizzle the pasta with a small amount of water then cover the dish with a microwave-safe lid. Cook for 1 minute at medium heat. If the pasta isn't warmed all the way through, stir it,  and cook it again in 15-second increments until completely heated.
 

Nutrition

Calories: 492kcalCarbohydrates: 50gProtein: 30gFat: 19gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 186mgSodium: 232mgPotassium: 256mgFiber: 3gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 869IUVitamin C: 7mgCalcium: 238mgIron: 3mg
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