Dinner Tonight: Shrimp Scampi with Pasta
This is a true last-second meal. My dog is in the midst of some serious puppy classes every week, and the meal before these sessions has turned into a rushed affair. We usually have to leave the kitchen in disarray to make school on time. Typically, I call for takeout, while the wife thinks it best to use whatever food we've already bought. She likes to save money for some reason. Too bad we didn't have much in the way of anything to eat. Only when I remembered the shrimp in the freezer, did some ideas start flowing. In a few minutes, I had the recipe for a delicious looking meal using only ingredients in my meager kitchen.
If this looks oddly familiar, it's because Blake had the same bright idea when he returned home late one night from a delayed flight. Though I can't quite claim mine the superior version, it is far, far creamier. We couldn't believe how filling this was, especially since the shrimp, lemon, and wine try to lighten things up. Thanks goes to the butter, and I suppose, also to Tyler Florence and his mostly wonderful Tyler's Ultimate creations.
About the author: Nick Kindelsperger is a co-founder of The Paupered Chef, a blog dedicated to saving time and money while enjoying food in every way possible. He sells wine for a living and lives in Columbus, Ohio.
Shrimp Scampi with Pasta
- serves 2 -
Adapted from Tyler Florence.
Ingredients
1/2 pound pasta
2 tablespoons butter
2 extra virigin olive oil
1/2 large shallot, finely diced
3 cloves garlic, sliced
Pinch of red pepper flakes
1/2 pound shrimp, peeled
Salt and pepper
1/4 cup dry white wine
Juice of half a lemon
Handful of parsley, chopped
Ingredients
1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. And a couple tablespoons of salt, then add the pasta. Cook according to the instructions on the pasta box. Drain when done.
2. Meanwhile, drop one tablespoon of the oil and one tablespoon of the butter into a large skillet. Melt the butter of medium-high heat. Add the shallots, garlic, and red pepper flakes. Cook until the shallots are translucent, about 2-3 minutes.
3. Add the shrimp and cook for about 3 minutes, turning halfway through. Remove the shrimp when pink, and set aside. Add the wine and lemon juice to the skillet, and bring to a boil. Add the rest of the butter and oil. Stir the sauce and let cook for 30 seconds to combine.
4. Return the shrimp to the skillet, season with salt and pepper, then add the drained pasta. Toss to combine everything. Add a little pasta water if the mixture is too dry. Serve with a sprinkle of parsley.
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8 Comments:
I know this usage, "shrimp scampi" is indelibly embedded in our language, but it's a huge pet peeve of mine. It translates to "shrimp shrimp." So you had shrimp shrimp with pasta. Kinda redundant, don't you think?
simon at 5:28PM on 10/08/08
@simon ~ Talk to the hand.
I adore Shrimp Scampi and this recipe is delightfully simple and looks divine. I am already printing it to make my shopping list!
izatryt at 5:53PM on 10/08/08
I didnt say the recipe wasn't good, I said the name is stupid.
simon at 6:09PM on 10/08/08
I've seen lobster scampi and scallop scampi on menus. From what I've learned, scampi was originally another name for langoustines cooked in butter with garlic. When the dish came over from Italy, American cooks started using shrimp because they couldn't always get langoustines, and they'd call it shrimp scampi. Now, scampi's used to describe a lot of different dishes (usually seafood, more usually crustaceans) cooked in butter with garlic. It's more about the way it's cooked than what the main ingredient is.
OneWallKitchen at 8:37PM on 10/08/08
I usu toss cherry tomatoes into my shrimp scrampi — just to assure myself it's not entirely a lazy meal.
Yu Ming Lui at 4:53AM on 10/09/08
In the UK, 'scampi' means breaded and fried shrimp. So whatever.
shoneyjoe at 6:41AM on 10/09/08
you are absolutely right. i just looked it up. scampi, called langoustines in french, also known as norway lobsters, are not shrimp. the italian for shrimp is gamberi. a thousand and one apologies. i still think it's a dumb name though.
simon at 1:15PM on 10/09/08
@simon ~ What would you call the dish?
izatryt at 4:23PM on 10/09/08