Basic Shrimp Scampi: A Simple Yet Delicious Recipe

Don and his wife love to cook. They enjoy new and different recipes and experimenting with interesting combinations of ingredients.

The Popular Shrimp Scampi Dish

This shrimp recipe is one of my favorite basic recipes from my shoebox collection. When you cook and want to serve something special (either at home or to bring over to some friends), one of the things that I recommend is to go back to the basics.

When looking for recipes, I recommend that everyone first pick a food that interests them. And if you aren’t sure of the appropriate process to follow, then find one of the basic recipes for the dish, and use it. You don’t have to serve a complex and time-consuming dish to prove that you can cook. You just have to serve a good dish.

Here's my reasoning for going back to basics: By using a basic recipe for the dish, you leave yourself the option to tweak the recipe and make it your own.

With the addition of other spices and herbs that you have on hand and that happen to suit your tastes, you end up with a dish that reflects you and your tastes.

Shrimp scampi is really just your favorite pasta covered in shrimp that are sautéed in oil, garlic, and butter. Here is my basic recipe. Use and modify it to your heart’s content.

Cook Time

Ingredients

• 2 pounds shrimp (21-25 count), peeled and rinsed
• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil, or more to suit your taste
• 4 large garlic cloves, chopped fine
• 3 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1/2 medium lemon, juiced
• 1 teaspoon hot sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

1. Make your favorite pasta. Make enough for four people, and time it to be ready at the same time that you will finish the shrimp.
2. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over a low to medium heat for a couple of minutes.
3. Add the garlic and heat until it starts to turn a light golden color, but do not burn it.
4. Add the shrimp and cook, stirring occasionally for 3 minutes. Turn the shrimp and cook for another 3 minutes.
5. Once the shrimp is a nice pink color, add the butter, salt, pepper, lemon juice and the hot sauce. Continue to cook, stirring, for around 2 minutes.
6. Remove the mixture from the heat.
7. Pour your cooked pasta into a large serving bowl, and then pour the shrimp and the sauce over the pasta.
8. Toss the mixture together until blended well and all of the pasta is wet with the sauce.
9. Serve HOT!

Notes

If you want to customize this dish, many herbs and spices can be used to customize the flavor of your dish even more. Here are some suggestions:

• Cilantro
• Thyme
• Rosemary
• Orange zest
• Sage

It’s your dish anyway, isn’t it?

Comments

Patricia Scott from North Central Florida on August 17, 2016:

I probably commented on this before but I love "me" some shrimp scampi...my mouth is watering. YUM..

Angels are on the way to you this morning ps

Don Bobbitt (author) from Ruskin Florida on March 22, 2013:

Vacation Trip- Thanks for the kind words and I hope that you enjoy the recipe. This recipe is an old standard, made around the world probably because it is so simple to make.

DON

Susan from India on March 21, 2013:

Wow.. This looks so delicious. I love shrimp and this recipe is simply awesome. Thanks for sharing.

Don Bobbitt (author) from Ruskin Florida on February 18, 2013:

Joanne- Thank you for checking out my recipe Hub.

I love this dish and sad to say (according to my growing waistline,sic. ) I eat it and a few others far toooften.

But, a man has to enjoy life where he can find it, I heard somewhere. LOL!

Thanksagain,

DON

Don Bobbitt (author) from Ruskin Florida on February 18, 2013:

sgbrown- Thanks for the read and for the kind words. This one is just your basic Shrimp Scampi that you will find in restaurants around the world. But, Boy is it good!

Thanks again,

DON

Joanne M Olivieri on February 17, 2013:

Wow, that looks so easy and yummy. I also like the fact that you posted the nutritional info. Sounds perfect for me.

Sheila Brown from Southern Oklahoma on February 17, 2013:

So simple, yet so tasty! I love shrimp almost anyway your can cook it! Scampi has always been one of my favorites! I cook my scampi the same, except for the hot sauce. Hot sauce doesn't like me much. LOL Great recipe! Voting up and useful! :)

Don Bobbitt (author) from Ruskin Florida on May 11, 2012:

Thanks for the comment Denise. Try this one, and I am sure that it will be come a recipe that you make regularly.

Denise Handlon from North Carolina on May 11, 2012:

I can't believe how simple this looks and the cooking / prep time is so short. Thanks for the recipe...I'll be trying that one next with my shrimp. :)

Don Bobbitt (author) from Ruskin Florida on May 11, 2012:

Thanks for the great comment puter_dr. And I hope your dinner is as good as I expect that it will be.

Good Luck.

Mitch Bolen from Midwest USA on May 11, 2012:

Love that recipe. That is how they should be made. Recently my wife and I went to a new Italian place, and the menu listed shrimp scampi, and described a dish like yours served with crusty bread to sop up the garlic sauce.

Imagine out dismay when they brought out shrimp swimming in tomato sauce! I think I just decided what I am making for dinner tonight.

Don Bobbitt (author) from Ruskin Florida on May 11, 2012:

Thanks Marcy for the comment. This recipe is a favorite of ours and the great Garlic flavor? MMMMMMM!

Marcy Goodfleisch from Planet Earth on May 10, 2012:

So simple, but so delicious looking! I love pasta dishes, and I love scampi - I will try this soon!

Don Bobbitt (author) from Ruskin Florida on September 15, 2011:

Mvillecat, Thanks for the Read and the Vote UP!

Catherine Dean from Milledgeville, Georgia on September 14, 2011:

Yum! I voted up!