For more shrimp recipes, try our Shrimp Penne alla Vodka or Cajun Dirty Rice with Shrimp. I can’t emphasise enough how much I enjoy cooking with shrimp, or prawns as they are known in my part of the world. Delicious sweet flavour, light and lean and incredibly quick to prepare! Needless to say, shrimp recipes are always popular in my house. Shrimp scampi is such a classic in Italian cuisine, and the reason for it lies in its simplicity. Quick to make with a small list of ingredients, it’s an elegant seafood pasta you can whip up with a minimum of fuss!
What is Shrimp Scampi?
The name of this dish can be a bit confusing to dig into. ‘Scampi‘ is the plural Italian word for langoustine, which is often called a shrimp but is actually closer to a lobster, if smaller. It’s also a form of preparation, which is how most of us know it. Italians in the US used shrimp but kept the basic Italian method, which is how we get the dish we know as Shrimp Scampi. The reason shrimp scampi linguine is a perfect shrimp recipe is because it allows the natural flavour of shrimp shine without masking it with too many ingredients. All you need is…
butter garlic dry white wine fresh lemon juice and salt
This sauce is so delicious despite its simplicity, and pairs incredibly with pasta. Although not 100% Italian in origin, this pasta dish is a great Italian American invention that lives on.
Best Wine to Use
I recommend using dry white wine such as Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio. Never a cooking wine. It’s important to avoid a sweet wine. When I don’t have an open bottle of white wine I often substitute it with Vermouth that keeps in a cupboard much longer since it’s a fortified wine.
Serving Suggestions
A light and vibrant salad will go very well to balance out the richness of the garlic butter scampi sauce. My Tuscan Panzanella Salad or Basil Pesto Caprese Salad will keep you within the Italian theme. Don’t forget some crusty bakery-style bread like my No Knead Farmhouse Bread to mop up that delicious sauce! Or my personal favourite, Garlic Bread! And to finish the meal go with just a little bite of sweetness. These Chocolate Cake Truffles are small but extremely satisfying and won’t put you over the edge at the end of a meal.
Storage and leftovers
Leftover shrimp scampi linguine will keep in the fridge for 3-4 days, although the pasta will loose some of it’s chew the longer it is kept. The easiest way to reheat is by using a microwave. I never recommend freezing pasta dishes. Freezing and defrosting does the pasta no favours, so best to eat this dish fresh.
More seafood pasta recipes
Prawn Pasta in Sun-dried Tomato Cream Sauce Crab Pasta Pasta with Smoked Salmon Seafood Lasagna
