Categorized:

  • Main Dish
  • Pasta & Italian
  • Seafood

Tagged:

  • butter
  • cream
  • garlic
  • lemons
  • parmesan cheese
  • parsley
  • pasta
  • shrimp
Shrimp pasta with creamy lemon sauce on a white oval serving platter shown from above. Platter is resting on an aqua colored cloth and lemons are shown to the side. - 1

Creamy Lemon Shrimp Pasta

Ingredients

  • 12 oz. dry linguine
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1 lb. large shrimp* (or extra large)
  • 1 Tbsp minced garlic (3 cloves)
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 2 tsp lemon zest
  • 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (or to taste)
  • 4 Tbsp butter, cut into 1-Tbsp pieces
  • 1 cup finely shredded parmesan cheese (2.5 oz)
  • 2 1/2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 1 Tbsp parlsey, for garnish (optional)

Instructions

  • Bring a large pot of water to a boil (with about 4 quarts water). Season water with salt and cook pasta to al dente according to directions listed on package. Before draining reserve 1 cup pasta water.
  • Meanwhile heat olive oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat.
  • Dab shrimp dry with paper towels, season with salt and pepper. Add to skillet in a single layer.
  • Let cook until pink on bottom, about 1 - 2 minutes. Add garlic, turn shrimp and continue to cook until cooked through (shrimp should be opaque).
  • Transfer shrimp to a sheet of foil and wrap loosely to keep warm.
  • In a medium saucepan heat cream along with lemon zest and red pepper flakes over medium heat. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to low and let simmer until reduced slightly, about 2 minutes.
  • Add in butter and whisk until melted.
  • Remove cream mixture from heat, then stir in parmesan cheese. Stir until cheese has melted. Season sauce with salt and pepper to taste.
  • In the skillet used to cook shrimp toss the drained linguine with sauce and lemon juice. Thin with pasta water as needed. Toss in shrimp.
  • Serve warm garnished with parsley if desired.

Notes

  • Shrimp usually loses some water weight, so while the package may say 1 1/4 lbs it’s usually more like 1 lb. Same with frozen shrimp once thawed.

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