Shrimp Scampi Linguine

I've always loved Shrimp Scampi. Lemon, Garlic and Shrimp? All my favourite things in a meal!

I stumbled across a recipe for a fairly healthy home cooked Shrimp Scampi Linguine the other day, and with the weather outside BEYOND frightful, I decided to give it a go.

This only took about 35 minutes to prep and make. Quick easy and delicious 

Plus it's been a slow month for recipes on the blog. I've been keeping track myself but not posting... get ready for a bit of an onslaught.. starting with this!

Shrimp Scampi Linguine (Serves 4) 

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp margarine
• 2 lemons, zested and juiced
• 6 cloves garlic (or 9... if you're me) minced
• 1/3 Spanish onion, chopped
• 1 tsp red pepper flakes
• small bunch fresh parsley, chopped small
• approx 25 shrimp. shelled, deveined and cooked
• 6 tbsp olive oil
• salt and pepper to taste
• 375g linguine 

Directions:

1) Zest lemons into small bowl, add garlic, onions and pepper flakes then set aside. Juice lemons into a second bowl and add olive oil, set aside. Fill a medium-sized pot with water and bring to boil over high heat, add pasta and cook until al dente.

2)  Take your shrimp and cut along the outside, vertically down the middle to "butterfly" the shrimp. Set aside.

3) In large frying pan over medium-high heat, melt margarine and add contents of bowl 1 (zest, garlic, onions and pepper flakes). Cook until veggies are soft, then add parsley. 

At this point, you may also want to add 1/4 cup of wine... Scampi traditionally has white wine in it, but you don't technically NEED it if you don't want... I certainly won't tell if you do though!

4) Now add your shrimp. lay the shrimp sideways in the pan. As the shrimp heats up, the butterfly cut will open! 

5) When they've opened fully, pour the contents of the second bowl (olive oil and lemon juice) over the shrimp. Increase heat to high and boil for 2-3 minutes while stirring to mix flavours. Reduce heat back to medium high and add salt and pepper.

6) Strain and rinse your pasta, then add to your frying pan. Absorb and bake the sauce into the pasta, stirring frequently (about 3-4 minutes). Adjust flavour as needed then serve!

Cheers!