What Is Shrimp Scampi?
Classic shrimp scampi is a dish made with garlic, butter, white wine, lemon juice and chopped parsley. The recipe gets its name from “scampi,” an Italian word for a type of small, pink crustaceans. In some corners of Europe, scampi are called langoustines. As the story goes, Italian-Americans started to cook with shrimp since it was more widely available in the United States, and this shrimp dish was created soon thereafter.
How to Make Shrimp Scampi Like a Pro
The expert recipe developers in Food Network Kitchen share their tips so your classic shrimp scampi turns out perfectly.
Prepare all the ingredients before you start cooking. This easy shrimp recipe comes together quickly, so it’s important to have all your ingredients ready to avoid overcooking any component.
Devein the shrimp. It only takes a few moments to remove the dark-colored tract along shrimps’ backs: All you need is a cutting board and a sharp knife. For step-by-step instructions with photos, check out our article, How to Devein Shrimp.
Add red pepper flakes to taste. If you prefer a milder dishg, use only 1/4 teaspoon or an even tinier pinch of red pepper flakes. Otherwise, go for the full 1/2 teaspoon of red pepper flakes. Either way, that small touch of heat balances the richness of the butter and shrimp.
What’s a Wine Substitute for Shrimp Scampi?
White wine provides the backbone to shrimp scampi sauce, so our recipe developers prefer to use it. However, if don’t want to cook with wine, you can substitute an equal amount of chicken stock or broth. To keep the flavors balanced, add 1 to 2 teaspoons of freshly squeezed lemon juice to the stock or broth before you add it to the pan.
How to Store Shrimp Scampi
To reheat, melt just enough butter to cover the bottom of a sauté pan over medium heat, then lower the heat and add the leftover pasta and shrimp. Cook, tossing often, until heated through, approximately 2 minutes.
