Description
Creamy spaghetti with succulent shrimp brings Mediterranean flavors to your dinner table. Luxurious pasta promises an elegant meal ready in under 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (450 g) shrimp (large, peeled and deveined)
- 300 g (10 oz) spaghetti
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup dry white wine (or chicken broth)
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese (grated)
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 tbsps olive oil or butter
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- ½ tsp red chili flakes (optional, for heat)
- Salt (to taste)
- Black pepper (to taste)
- 2 tbsps parsley (fresh, chopped, for garnish)
- Water (for boiling)
- Salt (for boiling pasta)
Instructions
- Pasta Preparation: Submerge spaghetti in heavily salted boiling water, cooking until al dente. Reserve a cup of starchy cooking liquid before draining the pasta.
- Shrimp Searing: Heat olive oil in a large skillet, quickly sauté shrimp until they turn pink and opaque. Remove shrimp and set aside on a separate plate.
- Flavor Infusion: In the same skillet, toast garlic and red chili flakes briefly. Deglaze with white wine, allowing the liquid to reduce and concentrate the aromatic flavors.
- Sauce Creation: Pour heavy cream into the skillet, whisking in Parmesan cheese until the mixture becomes smooth and velvety. Incorporate lemon juice, salt, and black pepper, adjusting consistency with reserved pasta water.
- Final Assembly: Merge spaghetti and shrimp into the creamy sauce, tossing gently to ensure complete coating. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley and additional Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately while piping hot.
Notes
- Pasta Water Preservation: Save some starchy pasta water before draining to help create a silkier, more cohesive sauce that clings perfectly to spaghetti strands.
- Shrimp Cooking Precision: Remove shrimp from heat the moment they turn opaque to prevent rubbery texture; overcooking transforms tender morsels into tough, chewy bites.
- Flavor Layering Technique: Use the same skillet for cooking shrimp and building sauce to capture and incorporate delicious caramelized seafood remnants, enhancing overall depth of flavor.
- Dietary Adaptation: Swap heavy cream with lighter alternatives like coconut milk or Greek yogurt for lower-fat versions; use gluten-free pasta for celiac-friendly preparation.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 600
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 55 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 200 mg