Spring Dinner Lemon Garlic Shrimp

# Ingredient List:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 oz whole wheat spaghetti or linguine

02 - Salt for pasta water

→ Shrimp

03 - 1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined

04 - 1 tbsp olive oil

05 - 1/4 tsp salt

06 - 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper

→ Sauce and Aromatics

07 - 3 tbsp olive oil

08 - 4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced

09 - 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes

10 - Zest of 1 lemon

11 - Juice of 2 lemons, approximately 1/4 cup

12 - 1/4 cup dry white wine

13 - 1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley

14 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, optional for serving

# Step-by-Step Instructions:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water before draining through a colander.

02 - While pasta cooks, pat shrimp dry using paper towels. Season evenly with 1/4 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp black pepper.

03 - Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Arrange shrimp in a single layer and sear for 1 to 2 minutes per side until opaque and pink throughout. Transfer cooked shrimp to a clean plate.

04 - In the same skillet, reduce heat to medium. Add 3 tbsp olive oil and sliced garlic. Sauté for 1 to 2 minutes until fragrant and pale golden, taking care not to brown. Stir in red pepper flakes, lemon zest, and white wine. Simmer for 1 to 2 minutes until liquid reduces slightly.

05 - Pour lemon juice into the skillet. Add drained pasta and toss continuously to coat all strands with the sauce. Gradually add reserved pasta water one tablespoon at a time until sauce achieves a light, silky consistency coating the noodles.

06 - Return cooked shrimp to the skillet. Add fresh parsley and toss gently to integrate all components without breaking the shrimp.

07 - Divide pasta mixture among serving bowls. Top with grated Parmesan cheese if desired and serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -

It's ready in 30 minutes flat, which means you can pull together something restaurant-quality on a weeknight without stress.
The bright lemon and garlic combination makes every bite feel fresh and alive, especially after months of heavier cooking.
Shrimp cooks so quickly that even if you're nervous about seafood, this one builds your confidence with its forgiving timing.

02 -

Overcooking shrimp is the enemy—they cook in minutes, and even thirty seconds too long turns them from tender to chewy, so stay present at the stove and trust the color change more than any timer.
That pasta water you reserved is liquid gold here; the starch in it helps the sauce cling to the noodles instead of sliding off, so don't skip saving it even if the pasta looks saucy enough.

03 -