Ingredients
Scale
Gathering your ingredients is the first step to creating magic in the kitchen. Here’s what you’ll need for this delightful dish:
- 12 ounces of linguine or spaghetti
- 1 pound of large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil
- 3 cloves of garlic, minced
- Zest and juice of 1 lemon
- 1/2 cup of chicken broth or white wine
- 1 cup of fresh basil leaves, torn
- 1/4 teaspoon of red pepper flakes (optional for a little kick)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Grated Parmesan cheese for serving
Feel free to swap out the linguine for any pasta you have on hand, and if you prefer a milder flavor, you can omit the red pepper flakes.
Instructions
Now, let’s get cooking! Follow these steps to whip up this delightful dish:
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente, according to package instructions. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water, then drain the pasta.
- In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the shrimp and cook until pink and opaque, about 2-3 minutes per side. Remove the shrimp from the skillet and set aside.
- In the same skillet, add the minced garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Be careful not to burn it.
- Pour in the chicken broth or white wine, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Let it simmer for about 3 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld together.
- Return the shrimp to the skillet and add the cooked pasta, tossing everything to coat. If needed, add a bit of the reserved pasta water to reach your desired sauce consistency.
- Stir in the fresh basil and red pepper flakes, if using. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve hot, with a generous sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese on top.
As you cook, remember that perfection isn’t the goal—a happy, well-fed family is. Don’t stress about a little extra lemon juice or an errant basil leaf; embrace the imperfections!
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Cooking
- Cuisine: International
Keywords: Lemon Basil Shrimp Pasta, recipe, cooking, food