Not only is this Shrimp Scampi delicious but it only takes about 20 minutes to make! I love that I can make a really great meal in such a short time. Likewise, this meal is also great for summertime: you don’t need an oven, only 5 minutes of cooking, it has fresh flavors. I provided two versions of this recipe, one is the Dairy Free version and the other recipe is the original one from Rasa Malaysia.

Cooking the Shrimp Shells

Don’t throw away those Shrimp shells just yet! To make a shrimp stock you basically add the shrimp shells to your stock ingredients and then you let it simmer for an hour or so. I love how the Shrimp Shells just kick the flavor up a notch. This recipe is quick and so we may not get quite as much flavor when adding the shells. Still, I will occasionally add the shells in to intensify the shrimp flavor.

According to the spruceeats.com, they say it takes 5 to 7 minutes to retract flavor from the shrimp shells. So, it’s best to add the Shrimp shells with the grape tomatoes and garlic, then add the shrimp and white wine. I remove the shells right before I add the pasta.

Which Noodles are Best?

When it comes to noodles, this recipe is very forgiving. Meaning, you really can use most noodles and it will work out great. For example, Spaghetti, Angel Hair pasta, Penne, or any shape you like will work just fine. The suggested noodle for this type of pasta was Linguine. Linguine is a great option because it’s heartier and thus more filling. Even so, I feel the flavor of this is more delicate and so I prefer Angel Hair pasta.

Butter Vs. Olive Oil

The original recipe is full of buttery flavor! Butter is amazing. However, sometimes I’ll cut the amount of butter in half and use more olive oil or I only use olive oil. Why would I do such a thing? I guess one could speculate that I’m just being overprotective of my arteries! Tis’ true peeps! Olive oil contains significantly less saturated fat and now dietary cholesterol. Although, butter makes things delicious, I find that in many cooking recipes, it’s unnecessary to use as much as they suggest (baking is a different story).

Find more information from the Philadelphia Tribune!

Adding a Side

We all have those crazy nights where we have hardly any time to eat dinner let alone, prepare dinner. On those busy nights I try to prepare the shrimp ahead of time to make this dinner even more convenient. Usually, we will just have the pasta and call it a “one pan” wonder type of meal.

If by chance, you have more time to dedicate to this meal, simply add a salad. This meal is low on veggies (I can hear the picky children all over the world cheering as I wrote those words). A Salad is a great side for this. In addition to a fresh salad, french bread or bread sticks are great option as well.

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4 from 1 vote

Dairy Free Shrimp Scampi Pasta

This is a light and delicious pasta dish. Normally, you hear Shrimp Scampi and you think of Butter but this recipe has no dairy but is just as good!

Ingredients

Angel Hair or Linguine Pasta 4 servings linguine or 6 servings of angel hair pasta
1 lb shrimp, peeled and deveined
¼ tsp cayenne pepper or just sprinkle a little bit over the Shrimp
1 Tbsp bacon Grease *see notes
3 Tbsp olive oil
5 cloves garlic peeled and minced
5 Tbsp white cooking wine
1 pint cherry tomatoes cut into halves or thirds depending on size
salt to taste
¼ tsp sugar
juice from ½ a lemon
½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
1 Tbsp chopped Italian parsley or Basil
shaved Parmigiano Reggiano (Parmesan cheese) optional

Instructions

Heat up a pot of water, and cook the linguine or Angel Pasta according to the instructions on the package.
Sprinkle the cayenne pepper to the shrimp. Set aside.
Heat up a sauté pan and add the bacon grease or oil. When grease melts, or if using oil, when the add the olive oil. Stir in the garlic and the cherry tomatoes into the pan, stir to combine well., lightly sauté until aromatic before adding the shrimp into the pan.
Sauté the shrimp until half cooked and then add the white wine, salt, and sugar.
When the shrimp is completely cooked, add a few squirts of the lemon juice, black pepper, and chopped parsley or Basil to the linguine,
shaved Parmigiano Reggiano cheese.

Notes

*We put our bacon grease in small mason jar after making bacon. If you don’t have any bacon Grease then feel free to use just olive oil.

What the… Bacon Grease?

Ok, a few of you might be wondering why I suggest using bacon grease, when there is no bacon to be found on this recipe. My Husband introduced this tip to me after we got married. I thought it was so strange at first but a little bacon grease can add a ton of flavor. Soon after eating eggs cooked in bacon grease, I became a firm believer!

Whenever I make bacon there is always a pool of grease left over. I pour the remaining grease into a Mason jar and once it’s cooled, place in the fridge. I use bacon grease for my eggs or even to grease my pancake griddle.

Here is the Full Dairy Version

Click here to find the original recipe. This blogger also elaborates on a little history of Shrimp Scampi which is pretty interesting, if you’re into that sort of thing.

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4 from 1 vote