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Creamy Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta with Peas

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A quick and easy creamy lemon garlic shrimp pasta with peas, featuring a velvety sauce balanced with bright lemon and garlic flavors. Perfect for a satisfying weeknight or weekend dinner.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined (wild-caught if possible)
  • 8 ounces spaghetti or linguine
  • 1 cup frozen peas, thawed
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • Juice and zest of 1 large lemon
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)
  • Handful of fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the spaghetti and cook until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water, then drain the rest.
  2. While the pasta cooks, pat the shrimp dry with paper towels and season lightly with salt and pepper.
  3. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the shrimp in a single layer and cook about 2 minutes per side until pink and opaque. Remove shrimp and set aside.
  4. Reduce heat to medium. Add remaining 1 tablespoon butter and minced garlic to the skillet. Sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant but not browned.
  5. Stir in thawed peas, lemon zest, and red pepper flakes if using. Cook for 1 minute to warm peas.
  6. Slowly add heavy cream and lemon juice, stirring to combine. Let simmer gently for 3-4 minutes until sauce thickens slightly.
  7. Add drained pasta and cooked shrimp back to the skillet. Toss to combine, adding reserved pasta water gradually if sauce is too thick. Sauce should coat pasta luxuriously without pooling.
  8. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, and more lemon juice if desired. Garnish with chopped parsley and extra Parmesan before serving.

Notes

Do not overcook shrimp to keep them tender. Add reserved pasta water gradually to avoid a watery sauce. Use fresh garlic and lemon zest for best flavor. For dairy-free, substitute heavy cream with coconut cream and Parmesan with nutritional yeast. Gluten-free pasta can be used as needed.

Nutrition

Keywords: shrimp pasta, lemon garlic pasta, creamy pasta, quick dinner, easy shrimp recipe, pasta with peas, weeknight dinner

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