Scampi is a term that is used differently in different parts of the world. Unlike the British, for whom scampi means breaded lobster tail meat, Americans refer to scampi as shrimp or other meat fried in butter with garlic and white wine. Int his article we'll be telling you how to make your own shrimp scampi pasta recipe, American style.
The most important ingredient in the shrimp scampi pasta recipe is, of course the scampi itself. Basically, the better quality shrimp you buy, the better tasting your dish will be. Try to pick up your large shrimp fresh from the fishmonger, who may even remove the tails if you ask. Keep them refrigerated until you're just about to use them, to keep them as fresh as possible.
Also for this recipe you'll need white wine, a little bit of olive oil, 4 cloves of garlic, salt, pepper, butter and a bottle of white wine. The wine can be cooking or normal, but not of the sparkling or dessert varieties. Begin by bringing a pan of water to a rolling boil, adding a glug of olive oil and however much pasta you need to feed your group. 5 minutes later, heat up 1 tbsp oil in a skillet, until it moves around fluidly, but doesn't have any bubbles. Add your 4 cloves of very finely chopped or crushed garlic cloves and the shrimp, mix them together and leave to cook for four minutes, stirring once half way through.
Next, remove the shrimp and place into a bowl, leaving the garlic infused oil in the pan. Melt 60g butter in the skillet, followed by a glass of white wine and leave to cook for another four minutes, so it reduces. By now your pasta should be cooked, so remove it from the heat, drain it in a colander and then add it to the skillet (which has been removed from the heat) so you can mix the ingredients together. Add the shrimp back to the skillet as well and then you can serve from there, or pour the meal into a separate serving dish. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
You can always serve your shrimp scampi pasta recipe in separate dishes: one with shrimp and the other with plain pasta. This allows your guests to decide how much of each they want to eat. If you do choose this method, however, remember to toss your plain pasta in a little olive oil to stop it sticking together which it's on the table. Alternatively you could also add finely chopped chili peppers to the mixture when you add the garlic and prawns to the skillet. This will give the dish a spicy kick and it's great when served with soured cream.
This shrimp scampi recipe is an Italian-American classic which will always go down a treat at dinner parties and family meals. Remember to buy good quality ingredients, especially the shrimp and wine, as this will greatly enhance the overall taste of the dish.
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