Creamy Lemon Shrimp Pasta
Indulge in a delightful combination of flavors with Creamy Lemon Shrimp Pasta, blending succulent shrimp, fresh basil, and a citrusy zing in a rich cream sauce. Perfect for weeknight dinners or special occasions.
Ingredients
Pasta
- 0.75 packages 0.75 (16 ounce) package spaghetti
Shrimp
- 1 pound 1 pound uncooked medium shrimp, peeled and deveined Fresh shrimp enhances the flavor.
Vegetables and Seasonings
- 2 tablespoons 2 tablespoons finely chopped shallots
- 1 tablespoon 1 tablespoon crushed garlic
- 0.25 cup 0.25 cup chicken broth
- 1 medium 1 medium lemon, zested and juiced Save some lemon juice for later.
- 1 pinch 1 pinch red pepper flakes Adjust to taste for spiciness.
Cream and Herbs
- 0.5 cup 0.5 cup heavy cream
- 5 large leaves 5 large basil leaves, chopped Fresh basil enhances flavor.
Salt and Pepper
- to taste Salt and ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
Boil Pasta
- Start by boiling a large pot of lightly salted water. Once it’s bubbling, add the spaghetti and cook for about 10 to 12 minutes, stirring occasionally until al dente.
Cook Shrimp
- While the pasta cooks, heat a splash of oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Season the shrimp with salt and black pepper, then add them to the skillet, cooking each side for about 30 seconds until pink. Transfer the shrimp to a plate.
Sauté Vegetables
- In the same skillet, add the finely chopped shallots and sauté them for about 2 minutes until they soften.
- Add the crushed garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Stir in the chicken broth, lemon zest, and half of the lemon juice, simmering for about 2 minutes.
Make Cream Sauce
- Pour in the heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer. Return the shrimp to the skillet and heat through for 2 to 3 minutes.
- Stir in the chopped basil before adding the drained spaghetti, integrating it with the cream sauce.
- Add a bit of reserved pasta water to adjust the consistency if needed, and sprinkle in the red pepper flakes.
Serve
- Plate the pasta generously and top each serving with additional basil leaves and grated lemon zest. Serve with a light salad or crusty bread alongside grated fresh parmesan.
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Notes
For the best results, use fresh shrimp and save some pasta water for adjusting the sauce size. If you want it spicier, adjust the red pepper flakes as per your preference.