5 Easy Steps To The Best Shrimp Linguine Recipe
Want a quick and easy dinner? This Shrimp Linguine Recipe is rich, savory, and takes under 30 minutes. Try this restaurant-quality dish at home!
Ingredients
- Linguine pasta 8 oz 225g Regular or whole wheat
- Large shrimp 1 lb 450g Peeled and deveined
- Garlic 4 cloves Freshly minced for best flavor
- Olive oil 1/4 cup Extra virgin preferred
- Butter 2 tbsp Unsalted
- White wine 1/4 cup Dry varieties work best
- Lemon 1 whole For both juice and zest
- Red pepper flakes 1/2 tsp Adjust according to spice preference
- Fresh parsley 1/4 cup Finely chopped
- Salt and pepper To taste Sea salt recommended
- Parmesan cheese 1/4 cup Freshly grated
Instructions
- Prepare the Pasta BaseToss everything together until well combined and heated through, about 1-2 minutes more over medium heat. The pasta should be glossy with sauce, and every bite should contain a harmonious blend of flavors from your shrimp linguine recipe.Serve immediately in warmed pasta bowls or plates, garnished with additional parsley and Parmesan if desired. The warmth of the plate or bowl helps keep your shrimp linguine recipe at the optimal temperature as you enjoy it.Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Add 1-2 tablespoons of salt (the water should taste like seawater) – this is crucial for properly seasoned pasta in your shrimp linguine recipe. Add the linguine and cook according to package instructions until al dente (usually 8-10 minutes). Stir occasionally during the first couple of minutes to prevent sticking.While perfectly cooked pasta should have a slight bite to it, remember that the linguine will continue to cook slightly when added to the hot sauce later, so aim for the lower end of the recommended cooking time. This ensures your finished shrimp linguine recipe won’t feature overcooked, mushy pasta. 2. Prepare the ShrimpWhile the pasta cooks, turn your attention to preparing the shrimp for your shrimp linguine recipe. First, pat them dry thoroughly with paper towels. This step is absolutely essential for achieving a good sear rather than steaming the shrimp, which would result in a less flavorful final dish.If your shrimp are particularly large, consider cutting them in half crosswise to create pieces that are more manageable and will distribute more evenly throughout the pasta. This allows for getting a bit of shrimp in every delicious bite of your completed shrimp linguine recipe.3. Cook the ShrimpHeat olive oil and 1 tablespoon of butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat until the butter is melted and the mixture is shimmering but not smoking. Carefully add the shrimp in a single layer (avoid crowding) and cook for 1-2 minutes per side until they turn pink and opaque. They should form a loose “C” shape when properly cooked.Once cooked, remove the shrimp to a clean plate and set aside. They’ll be added back to the shrimp linguine recipe in the final steps. 4. Create the Flavor BaseIn the same skillet (don’t clean it!), reduce heat to medium and add the minced garlic and red pepper flakes. The residual oil and butter will help bloom these aromatics without burning them. Cook for just 30 seconds until the garlic becomes fragrant but doesn’t brown, as browned garlic can add bitterness to your shrimp linguine recipe.This short cooking process releases the essential oils in both the garlic and pepper flakes, infusing the fat with their flavors and creating a aromatic foundation for your sauce.5. Develop the SauceAdd the white wine and freshly squeezed lemon juice to the skillet. The liquid will sizzle as it hits the hot pan, helping to deglaze the surface by loosening any browned bits from cooking the shrimp. These browned bits (called fond) contain concentrated flavors that will enrich your shrimp linguine recipe sauce.Allow this mixture to simmer for about 2 minutes, which accomplishes two things: it burns off the alcohol in the wine and reduces the liquid slightly, concentrating the flavors that will coat your pasta.6. Prepare the Pasta for SauceWhen the linguine is cooked to al dente perfection, drain it in a colander, but be sure to reserve approximately 1/2 cup of the starchy pasta cooking water first. This cloudy water contains starches that will help thicken your sauce and create the silky texture that characterizes an authentic Italian pasta dish.Never rinse your pasta after cooking when making this shrimp linguine recipe (or any pasta dish). Rinsing would wash away the surface starches that help the sauce adhere to the linguine.7. Combine Pasta and SauceAdd the drained linguine directly to the skillet with the sauce. Add the remaining tablespoon of butter and toss everything together with tongs, coating each strand of pasta with the flavorful sauce. The residual heat from both the pasta and the skillet will melt the butter, adding richness and helping to create an emulsified sauce for your shrimp linguine recipe.If the mixture seems too dry or the sauce isn’t coating the pasta well, add a small amount of the reserved pasta water, a couple of tablespoons at a time. The starchy water will help create a silky sauce that clings to both the pasta and the shrimp.8. Reintroduce the ShrimpReturn the cooked shrimp to the skillet, along with any juices that have accumulated on the plate. These juices contain concentrated shrimp flavor that will enhance your sauce. Gently fold the shrimp into the pasta mixture, distributing them evenly throughout the dish.Continue to add small amounts of the reserved pasta water if needed to maintain a loose, silky sauce consistency. The goal is to have a sauce that coats each strand of linguine without pooling in the bottom of the pan.9. Add Final Flavor ElementsSprinkle the lemon zest, chopped fresh parsley, and grated Parmesan cheese over the pasta. The lemon zest adds bright citrus notes, the parsley brings fresh, herbaceous elements, and the Parmesan contributes salty, umami richness to complete your shrimp linguine recipe.Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Remember that Parmesan cheese is salty, so taste the dish before adding additional salt.10. Final Toss and ServeToss everything together until well combined and heated through, about 1-2 minutes more over medium heat. The pasta should be glossy with sauce, and every bite should contain a harmonious blend of flavors from your shrimp linguine recipe.Serve immediately in warmed pasta bowls or plates, garnished with additional parsley and Parmesan if desired. The warmth of the plate or bowl helps keep your shrimp linguine recipe at the optimal temperature as you enjoy it.
