Garlic Butter Shrimp

Ingredients

• 1.5 lbs large shrimp, peeled and deveined (tail-on for presentation)
• Salt, pepper
• 4 tbsp butter
• 6 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/4 cup dry white wine
• Juice of 1 lemon
• Pinch of red pepper flakes
• 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
• Crusty bread for serving

Method

1. Season shrimp with salt and pepper. Pat dry.
2. Sear: Melt 2 tbsp butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add shrimp in a single layer. Cook 1.5 min until pink on the bottom. Flip, cook 1 min. Remove immediately (overcooked shrimp = rubber).
3. Sauce: Reduce heat to medium. Add remaining butter and garlic. Cook 30 sec until fragrant (not brown). Add wine, lemon juice, and pepper flakes. Simmer 1 min.
4. Combine: Return shrimp, toss in sauce. Garnish with parsley.
5. Serve with crusty bread to soak up the sauce, or over rice, pasta, or grits.

What You're Practicing

• Shrimp timing: they go from raw to perfect to overcooked in about 60 seconds
• Garlic technique: add after the shrimp are removed so it doesn't burn during the high-heat sear
• This is the simplest pan sauce application — butter + garlic + wine + lemon