Shrimp Scampi with Basil

Adding basil to traditional Italian-American shrimp scampi gives it a boost of sweet flavor to balance the lemon and garlic in the dish.

Shrimp scampi is a classic recipe that you’ll find in many restaurants, especially Italian-American restaurants. But the origin of the dish has some discrepancies with the name. If you look it up, the word “scampi” is actually for a specific type of small lobster. When the recipe came to America, it was swapped for shrimp since that’s more readily available. Both names were kept to keep things easier.

Most people think of shrimp scampi as shrimp cooked with garlic in a white wine sauce over pasta. While that’s the typical meal, there are many variations. For instance, in some regions, chefs experiment with adding a touch of spice to the dish by incorporating red pepper flakes or hot sauce. This not only enhances the flavor but also lends a subtle kick to the overall taste. Additionally, some culinary enthusiasts opt for a twist on the traditional scampi by substituting the pasta with grains like quinoa or farro, adding a nutritious element to the dish. Moreover, others prefer to enrich the sauce by incorporating fresh herbs such as basil or parsley, elevating the aromatic profile of the scampi. With so many possibilities, shrimp scampi remains a versatile and adaptable dish that will continue to delight seafood lovers for years to come.

Our AeroGarden was overrun with basil, so I decided to make a shrimp scampi recipe that included a decent amount of basil. Usually, I would go for cilantro with shrimp and seafood, but the basil worked well. It adds a bit of a sweet flavor to balance out the garlic and wine.

Shrimp Scampi Step by Step

Ingredients

• 8 oz uncooked whole-wheat linguine
• 1/3 cup olive oil
• 1 lb large shrimp, peeled, deveined
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• 1/4 cup white cooking wine
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 4 tbsp butter
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 1/2 cup basil, torn
• 1 tsp lemon zest

Preparation

Cook the pasta according to the directions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of the cooking water.

Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the shrimp and sprinkle with 1/2 tsp of the salt and the pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the shrimp are partially opaque.

Add the white wine and garlic and continue to cook, stirring often, until the shrimp are mostly cooked through.

Add the pasta and 1/4 cup of the cooking water and bring to a simmer. Place the butter, lemon juice, and remaining 1 tsp of salt in the pasta. Stir constantly until the sauce thickens and coats the pasta. Add more cooking water, 1/4 cup at a time, as needed.

Remove from the heat and stir in 1/3 cup of basil. Top with lemon zest, basil leaves, and pepper.

Leftovers

Any leftover shrimp scampi can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days in an airtight container. Reheat in a skillet, adding a bit of butter if needed.

Recipe

Shrimp Scampi with Basil

Adding basil to traditional Italian-American shrimp scampi gives it a boost of sweet flavor to balance the lemon and garlic in the dish.

Prep Time 30 minutes minutes

Total Time 30 minutes minutes

Course:

Main Dish

Cuisine:

American

|

Italian

Keyword:

pasta

|

pasta noodles

|

seafood

|

shrimp

Dietary Needs:

Egg-Free

|

Nut-Free

Meat:

Seafood

Servings: 4

5 from 2 votes

Ingredients

• 8 oz uncooked whole-wheat linguine
• 1/3 cup olive oil
• 1 lb large shrimp (peeled, deveined)
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• 1/4 cup white cooking wine
• 3 cloves garlic (minced)
• 4 tbsp butter
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 1/2 cup basil (torn)
• 1 tsp lemon zest

Recommended Equipment

• Saucepan – Medium
• Skillet

Instructions

• Cook the pasta according to the directions until al dente
• Reserve 1 cup of the cooking water
• Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat
• Add the shrimp and sprinkle with 1/2 tsp of the salt and the pepper
• Cook, stirring occasionally, until the shrimp are partially opaque
• Add the white wine and garlic and continue to cook, stirring often, until the shrimp are mostly cooked through
• Add the pasta and 1/4 cup of the cooking water and bring to a simmer
• Place the butter, lemon juice, and remaining 1 tsp of salt in the pasta
• Stir constantly until the sauce thickens and coats the pasta
• Add more cooking water, 1/4 cup at a time, as needed
• Remove from the heat and stir in 1/3 cup of basil
• Top with lemon zest, basil leaves, and pepper

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Nutrition Facts

Shrimp Scampi with Basil

Amount Per Serving (1 each)

Calories 382 Calories from Fat 279

% Daily Value*

Fat 31g48%

Saturated Fat 10g50%

Trans Fat 1g

Cholesterol 316mg105%

Sodium 1855mg77%

Potassium 128mg4%

Carbohydrates 2g1%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 1g1%

Protein 24g48%

Vitamin A 510IU10%

Vitamin C 10mg12%

Calcium 180mg18%

Iron 3mg17%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutrition content will vary based on brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes, and more.

Shrimp Scampi with Basil FAQs

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