My sauce seems oily and separated. What happened?

This usually happens if you add the butter to the sauce while the pan is still over high heat. The butter should be whisked in off the heat or over very low heat. This allows it to emulsify into a creamy sauce rather than just melting and separating into an oil slick. Using the starchy pasta water is also crucial for a stable emulsion.

My shrimp are tough and rubbery. How can I prevent this?

You overcooked them. Shrimp cook incredibly fast—often in just 2-3 minutes total. They are perfectly cooked when they turn pink and opaque and curl into a "C" shape. If they curl into a tight "O" shape, they are overcooked. It's better to slightly undercook them when you first sear them, as they will cook a little more when you return them to the hot sauce at the end.

Can I make this Shrimp Scampi without the wine?

Yes. For a non-alcoholic version, you can replace the 1/2 cup of white wine with an equal amount of chicken broth or vegetable broth. Be sure to add an extra squeeze of fresh lemon juice at the end to make up for the lost acidity.

Shrimp Scampi: The #1 Ultimate 20-Minute Restaurant-Quality Recipe

The Ultimate Shrimp Scampi with Angel Hair Pasta (Ready in 20 Minutes!)

A classic Italian-American dish, this Shrimp Scampi features large shrimp quickly sautéed with garlic and red pepper flakes. A simple pan sauce is made from lemon juice, dry white wine, and butter, emulsified with a bit of starchy pasta water. The sauce and shrimp are then tossed with cooked angel hair pasta, fresh parsley, and lemon zest for a bright and flavorful finish. It’s a quick and elegant meal perfect for a weeknight dinner.

Author: Evelyn
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Total Time: 27 minutes
Yield: 4-6 servings 1x
Category: Main Course
Method: Sautéing, Boiling
Cuisine: Italian-American

Ingredients

Scale

1 pound angel hair pasta
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 lemon, juiced, plus 1/2 lemon, zested
1/2 cup dry white wine
5 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup chopped parsley leaves
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over medium heat. Add the angel hair pasta and cook until al dente, following package directions (usually 3-5 minutes).
Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat. When the oil is shimmering, add the shrimp and sauté for 2 to 3 minutes, until just cooked through. Remove the shrimp from the skillet to a plate and set aside.
Add the minced garlic and red pepper flakes to the same skillet and sauté for about 1 minute until the garlic is fragrant.
Add the lemon juice and white wine to the skillet and increase the heat to high. Allow the liquid to reduce for 2 to 3 minutes.
Whisk in the butter until it melts and creates a creamy sauce. Add a ladleful of the hot pasta cooking water and stir.
Return the cooked shrimp to the skillet. Remove the pan from the heat.
Drain the cooked pasta and add it directly to the skillet with the sauce. Add the chopped parsley and toss everything to combine.
Stir in the lemon zest and adjust the seasonings with salt and pepper to your taste.
Transfer to a serving platter and serve immediately.

Notes

Cooking the pasta ‘al dente’ is important as it will continue to absorb some sauce after being drained.
Removing the shrimp from the skillet after the initial sauté and adding them back at the end prevents them from overcooking and becoming tough.
Using a ladleful of the starchy pasta water is a key technique to help the butter and wine sauce emulsify and cling to the noodles.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe
Calories: 650-750
Sugar: 4-6 g
Sodium: 700-900 mg
Fat: 28-35 g
Saturated Fat: 14-18 g
Trans Fat: 0 g
Carbohydrates: 60-70 g
Fiber: 3-5 g
Protein: 30-35 g
Cholesterol: 250-300 mg

Find it online: https://cookupjoy.com/shrimp/