Recipe: Lemon Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta

Ingredients:

• 8 ounces of linguine pasta (or pasta of your choice)
• 1 pound of large shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 4 tablespoons of unsalted butter
• 4 cloves of garlic, minced
• Zest of 1 lemon
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 1/4 teaspoon of red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
• Salt and black pepper to taste
• 2 tablespoons of chopped fresh parsley
• Grated Parmesan cheese for serving

Instructions:

1. Cook the Pasta:

   • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
   • Add the linguine pasta and cook according to the package instructions until al dente.
   • Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water, then drain the pasta and set it aside.

2. Prepare the Shrimp:

   • Pat the shrimp dry with paper towels and season them with salt and black pepper to taste.
   • In a large skillet, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium-high heat.
   • Add the shrimp to the skillet and cook for 2-3 minutes on each side until they turn pink and opaque.
   • Once cooked, remove the shrimp from the skillet and set them aside.

3. Make the Lemon Garlic Butter Sauce:

   • In the same skillet, melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat.
   • Add the minced garlic and red pepper flakes to the skillet, and cook for 1-2 minutes until the garlic is fragrant but not browned.
   • Stir in the lemon zest and lemon juice, then add back the cooked shrimp to the skillet.
   • Toss the shrimp in the lemon garlic butter sauce until they are well coated.

4. Combine the Pasta and Sauce:

   • Add the cooked linguine pasta to the skillet with the shrimp and sauce.
   • Toss everything together until the pasta is evenly coated with the lemon garlic butter sauce.
   • If the sauce seems too thick, add a splash of reserved pasta water to loosen it up.

5. Serve:

   • Garnish the lemon garlic butter shrimp pasta with chopped fresh parsley and grated Parmesan cheese.
   • Serve hot and enjoy the burst of flavors!

This Lemon Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta is a delightful combination of zesty lemon, savory garlic, and succulent shrimp, perfectly complemented by the richness of butter and the freshness of parsley. It's a quick and easy dish that's sure to impress your family and friends at any mealtime!