Creamy Garlic Shrimp Pasta

Ingredients

• 250 g spaghetti or linguine
• 250 g peeled and deveined shrimp
• 2 tbsp butter (Use 1 tbsp to cook the shrimp and the remaining butter for the sauce.)
• 1 tbsp olive oil (For cooking the shrimp.)
• 4 garlic (4–5 cloves, finely chopped.)
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 0.5 cup Parmesan cheese (Grated; extra Parmesan may be used for garnish.)
• 0.5 tsp black pepper (Used to season the shrimp and added to the sauce.)
• 0.5 tsp chili flakes (Extra may be used for garnish.)
• 0.5 tsp Italian seasoning
• 0.5 tsp paprika
• salt (To taste; also used to salt the pasta water.)
• 2 tbsp fresh parsley (Chopped; for garnish.)
• 0.25 cup reserved pasta water (Reserve before draining the pasta; add as needed if the sauce is too thick.)
• lemon juice (Optional, for serving.)

Steps

1. 1

   Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the spaghetti or linguine according to the package directions until al dente. Before draining, reserve about ¼ cup of the pasta water, then drain the pasta.

2. 2

   Heat the olive oil and 1 tbsp of the butter in a large pan over medium-high heat.

3. 3

   Season the shrimp with the paprika, black pepper, and a little salt.

4. 4

   Add the seasoned shrimp to the pan and cook for about 2–3 minutes per side, until pink and cooked through. Remove the shrimp from the pan and set aside.

5. 5

   In the same pan, add the remaining butter and the chopped garlic. Sauté for 30–60 seconds, until fragrant.

6. 6

   Pour in the heavy cream and stir well. Add the Italian seasoning, chili flakes, and black pepper.

7. 7

   Reduce the heat to low. Gradually add the grated Parmesan, stirring continuously until it melts and the sauce becomes smooth and creamy.

8. 8

   If the sauce is too thick, add a little of the reserved pasta water and stir until the desired consistency is reached.

9. 9

   Add the cooked pasta to the creamy sauce and toss until every strand is coated.

10. 10

    Add the cooked shrimp and gently mix everything together.

11. 11

    Plate the pasta while hot. Garnish with the chopped fresh parsley, and optionally add extra Parmesan and a pinch of chili flakes.

12. 12

    Optionally finish each serving with a small squeeze of lemon juice. Serve immediately.

Notes

Do not overcook the shrimp. Reserving pasta water helps create a silky sauce. The source does not specify an exact pasta cooking time beyond following the package directions.

Nutrition per serving

• main
• pasta
• seafood
• Italian-inspired
• creamy
• quick dinner
• stovetop
• comfort food