Shrimp Scampi

Ingredients

• 1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined
• Salt, pepper
• 3 tbsp butter
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 6 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
• 1/2 cup dry white wine
• Juice of 1 lemon
• Pinch of red pepper flakes
• 1/4 cup fresh parsley
• 8 oz linguine or spaghetti, cooked (reserve 1/2 cup pasta water)

Method

1. Sauté shrimp: Heat oil and 1 tbsp butter over medium-high. Season shrimp, cook 1.5 min per side until pink and curled. Remove immediately (overcooked shrimp = rubber).
2. Garlic: Add sliced garlic to the pan, cook 30 sec until fragrant but not brown.
3. Sauce: Add wine and lemon juice, reduce by half. Add remaining butter and red pepper flakes.
4. Combine: Return shrimp. Toss with cooked pasta and a splash of starchy pasta water. Garnish with parsley.

What You're Practicing

• Quick sauté of delicate protein — shrimp cook in 3 min total
• Garlic technique: sliced thin, cooked briefly (burnt garlic is bitter and irreversible)
• Pasta water as emulsifier — the starch binds the sauce to the noodles