There are so many different ways to make Shrimp Scampi: in a red sauce, in a white sauce, without pasta, over rice…There are endless possibilities!

I tried many different recipes until I came up with this dish which has since become a staple in my house.  I finally mastered it and now have it to share with you.  You can always shorten the time it takes to make by using dry herb ingredients instead of fresh ones. 

Todays Hint: Read ingredients before starting recipe.  Prepare each ingredient first and set aside.  This will making cooking time less effortful and much faster.

Ingredients for Shrimp Scampi
2 pounds of shrimp peeled and deveined and cut into pieces
3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
8 anchovies
½ tsp red pepper flakes
8 cloves garlic minced
4 stems fresh oregano leaves, chopped (or 2 tbsp dried)
4 stems thyme, chopped (or 2 tbsp dried)
½ fresh lemon juice
½ cup basil leaves, chopped (or 1/4 cup dried)
1 cup of good white wine
¾ cup chicken broth or stock
½ cup of breadcrumbs
1 pound of linguini
1 tbsp.  Kosher salt (1/4 reserved)
1 1/4 tsp. pepper ( 1/4 reserved)

Cook linguini for 4 minutes less than the directions tell you to.

SAVE 1 cup of the pasta water for the sauce.

Heat the olive oil over medium heat.  Add the shrimp to the pot with a ¼ tsp salt and ¼ tsp pepper.  Cook until shrimp turns bright orange about 2-3 minutes.  Take the shrimp off and set it aside.

Add 1 tsp more olive oil to the pan.  Take chopped anchovies and crushed red pepper and put into the pan.

Cook until anchovies melt, about 3 minutes.  Add garlic and cook for only one minute.  Watch carefully so garlic does not burn.

Add breadcrumbs to the pot, cook for 2-3 minutes until you see them start to brown. Keep mixing so it does not stick to pan.

Place wine in pan and reduce for 2-3 minutes.

Add chicken broth and lemon juice and  bring the sauce to a boil. Place chopped herbs into pot and let it cook for about 5-7 minutes.

Now it is time to put pasta into pot.  If it is sticking don’t worry, it will start to come apart as it absorbs the sauce.

Add remaining salt and pepper.  Add shrimp back to the pot. Stir in a little bit of pasta water at a time, until the sauce reaches desired thickness (you may not need all of the pasta water).  Keep cooking for about another 3-4 minutes.

 

SOOO good! You have to try this!

It’s that simple!