Description
This Angel Hair Pasta with Shrimp recipe is a quick and flavorful dish combining tender shrimp, delicate angel hair pasta, and a bright lemon garlic butter sauce, perfect for a satisfying dinner in under 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Pasta
- 8 ounces angel hair pasta
Shrimp and Sauce
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter (divided)
- 16 ounces large shrimp (peeled and deveined)
- Salt (to taste)
- Freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
- 1 shallot (minced)
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 lemon (zested and juiced)
- 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Fresh parsley (chopped for garnish)
Instructions
- Cook pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the angel hair pasta and cook for 4-5 minutes until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water, then drain the pasta.
- Cook shrimp: While the pasta cooks, heat the olive oil and 1 tablespoon of butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season the shrimp with salt and freshly ground black pepper, then add them to the skillet along with the minced shallots. Cook the shrimp for about 2 minutes per side until they turn pink and are cooked through.
- Make sauce: Lower the heat to medium-low. Add the minced garlic to the skillet and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Stir in the lemon juice, lemon zest, and the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter until melted. Then add the drained pasta to the skillet and gradually add reserved pasta water as needed to achieve your desired sauce consistency.
- Toss and serve: Gently toss the pasta and shrimp in the sauce until well coated. Sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese and freshly chopped parsley over the top before serving.
Notes
- If you prefer a spicier dish, add a pinch of red pepper flakes when cooking the garlic.
- Reserve pasta water is important to adjust sauce texture without thinning it too much.
- You can substitute large shrimp with scallops or chicken if preferred.
- Use freshly grated Parmesan for best flavor and texture.
- Serve immediately for optimal taste and texture.
