Southern Shrimp Scampi

Southern Shrimp Scampi
Lizzy Johnston for The New York Times
Total Time
20 minutes
Rating
5(1,291)
Notes
Read community notes

Scampi can mean different things in different cultures. The British deep fry langoustines in batter. In Italy, the langoustines are often sautéed in garlic and olive oil. Italian immigrants in America swapped in shrimp, and from there a thousand variations were born. This is a dish that cooks quickly and rises or falls on good-tasting shrimp. It is worth buying shrimp with the shells on and peeling them yourself.

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Ingredients

Yield:4 servings
  • 3large garlic cloves, finely chopped
  • ½teaspoon salt
  • ½teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • pound large shrimp, preferably wild American shrimp (16/20 or 21/25 count), peeled and deveined
  • 2tablespoons olive oil
  • ½cup wine
  • 6tablespoons butter
  • 1tablespoon lemon juice
  • 2tablespoons chopped Italian parsley
  • ½teaspoon red pepper flakes
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (4 servings)

366 calories; 25 grams fat; 12 grams saturated fat; 1 gram trans fat; 10 grams monounsaturated fat; 2 grams polyunsaturated fat; 3 grams carbohydrates; 0 grams dietary fiber; 0 grams sugars; 29 grams protein; 465 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    In a bowl, toss garlic, salt and pepper with the shrimp, which may be refrigerated, well covered, for several hours at this point.

  2. Step 2

    When ready to cook, heat oil in a large sauté pan over high heat until it shimmers, then add shrimp and move shrimp around in the pan for about 2 minutes, or until the color just begins to turn from translucent.

  3. Step 3

    Remove shrimp, reduce heat to medium-high and add wine, scraping up any bits on the bottom of the pan. Cook for a couple of minutes to reduce, then add butter and swirl the pan to melt it.

  4. Step 4

    Put shrimp back into pan, stir about a minute to finishing cooking and add lemon juice.

  5. Step 5

    Remove to serving dish, sprinkle with parsley and red pepper flakes, adding more pepper if desired. Serve over rice or pasta or as is.

Ratings

5 out of 5
1,291 user ratings
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Cooking Notes

I really had a problem with the method of cooking here. I found that to cook the shrimp the right amount (not overdone) left the garlic very raw and not incorporated into the dish. And to cook the garlic until it was fragrant left the shrimp very overcooked. In the future I will not mix the shrimp and garlic together prior to cooking as suggested here.

I used the shrimp shells and some wine, a bit of onion and parsley to simmer a shrimp stock on very low for a couple hours. I strained that and used about a cup of it in lieu of the wine, let it cook down by about half before adding the butter. Served with cheese grits. SO GOOD!

A few added ideas. First, before adding the shrimp back in, toss in your freshly cooked pasta, and a bit of the pasta water, then put shrimp in with some lemon zest and cover to steam the last cook cycle of the shrimp...so moist and tender this way and the pasta sucks up all the flavors. Sometimes I also add some small brined capers or quartered artichoke hearts. A 2 pot meal with full appeal!

My thought is that food evolves as it moves from place to place. I often see reader comments that a recipe "isn't authentic" to the original, typically from another country. But isn't that OK? Language evolves over time and place, why not food?

This is one of my favorite shrimp dishes. Easy to prepare and everybody loves it. I use Wild Caught Argentinian Red Shrimp, unsalted butter, Meyer lemons, Italian parsley, organic garlic, freshly ground rainbow peppercorns, Sauvignon Blanc, organic California olive oil, organic quinoa and red pepper flakes, all from Trader Joe's, so shopping is all in one place. My relationship with Trader Joe's is strictly as a happy customer. No more, no less. Your family and friends will love this dish.

Most recipes call for cooking the garlic first until it is fragrant. I suggest this as an alternative method. Some people even remove the garlic after the oil is perfumed. Sounds like an excellent recipe that I am sure to try.

If you can, take the time to roast a half head of peeled garlic on low heat in the oven in some olive oil and butter while the shrimp is marinating, about an hour at 250 F. After cooling mash to make a paste with a fork. Add to the shrimp while cooking. You can sub the paster for some of the butter and olive oil in the recipe. Takes the garlic to a whole 'nother level, but admittedly, not the recipe as written. (Sorry).

Just remove the shrimp when ready and cook garlic a little longer.

Delicious. I reduced the butter and tossed the finished product with cooked pasta and roasted onions, peppers, and zucchini for a one-dish meal.

This was amazing. I prepared it using fresh 16/20 Key West Gulf Shrimp. It was easy (though it did take me more than 20 minutes), delicious, & will now be a part of my repertoire. For us, there was too much butter (I used unsalted), so the next time I'll probably use 5 Tbs. I left a bowl of red pepper flakes & fresh grated parmesan on the table, & some thought this enhanced the dish.
I served this over Capellini w/a Caprese Salad & a nice Chardonnay to rave reviews from all.
Kudos to Kim.

We loved this. I did cut back on the butter to 4 Tbs. Served over Basmati rice but next time will serve with grits to make it a true Southern dish. Included chiffonade of basil to dish with the parsley. Glad we didn't have folks over to join us, we ate all 4 servings.

Very easy dish. If you love shrimp and garlic this is a must try! I added more garlic and a bit more wine/butter....
Fresh parsley tops it off.

simmer shells in vermouth & water or white wine, along with a bay leaf, pepper flakes, whole large garlic clove, perhaps tarragon; remove shells and cook broth down to 1/2 cup or less, Cook shrimp till just pink in butter & evol (2:1); set shrimp aside, add reduced broth and cook sauce down further. When pasta is cooked, toss with sauce, add shrimp, toss and warm; plate. Sweet carrots butter steamed w. mint and perfect avocado slices made a tasty plate.

Added lemon juice when off heat.
Delicious. And so easy.

jojialq you can use 1/4 cup chicken stock instead of wine! I read it in another recipe and just made this recipe using chicken stock it was really tasty!

Use 8-10 frozen shrimp, defrosted. Sprinkle with garlic salt, salt and pepper, and some Aleppo pepper flakes. Small amount of olive oil gently heated in small cast iron pan. Cook shrimp 1-2 minutes each side. Remove to covered dish. Add 2/4 c. White wine to deglaze pan. Add 3 T. Butter. Sauté diced sweet peppers, red onion, cherry tomatoes. Sauté until soft. Add lemon juice. More salt and pepper. Add shrimp for final heating. Serve over jasmine rice. (I always have leftovers saved in the freezer

I have made this as written many times. Lately I’ve been adding some sugar snap peas which are great with this. This evening I realized I had no white wine I did have some chicken stock; used that and only 4 T of butter. A slightly different flavor but still yummy. I prefer it with the white wine but it’s good to know it works without.

I have made this as written many times. Lately I’ve been adding some sugar snap peas which are great with this. This evening I realized I had no white wine I did have some chicken stock; used that and only 4 T of butter. A slightly different flavor but still yummy. I prefer it with the white wine but it’s good to know it works without.

I found the recipe delicious and made some slight adjustments along the way. To thicken the sauce. I used half a lemon juice and equal parts Sancerre for the sauce, I then cooked the shrimp until just done, then set them aside while I continued to cook the sauce to thicken it. Thanks!

This is the BEST Scampi EVER I recently made this dish. Followed directions to a t and it was superb! The garlic is cooked mostly in the wine reduction and adding the parsley right at the end is perfect. I found that the reduction could be turned up high so when you put the shrimp in it caramelized a bit. Use a good white wine and this can make all the difference. I served it with warm buckwheat soba noodles - again, the BEST Shrimp Scampi I have ever had.

Added marinated artichoke hearts and heavy cream at the end. Oh my...

what type of wine should I use?

followed the recipe. used stock made from the shells. reduce that stock and then do the wine, butter, etc. just right & so easy (except for peeling the shrimp! Spouse deveined them. don't over cook. two minutes in hot pan is enough. they will finish in the sauce at the end. lotsa parseley is very nice

Fusion? Cajun seasoning instead of salt and pepper; cilantro instead of parsley; served over linguine. Otherwise followed recipe. Excellent. This will be good for your choice of herbs and spices

Serve with cheesy grits!

So good! Sautéed garlic before adding shrimp. Served with Charleston Red Rice and crispy bread.

This was succulent! I sautéd garlic in EVOO and butter, then sautéed shrimp - just a bit - added wine but not as much as recipe called for and lemon - quick serve with rice and parsley .! So good! Quick quick in order to not overcook shrimp!

Have made and enjoyed many times following recipe as written. Today I added some asparagus cooking it in the butter sauce. Had they been thick spears I might have steamed a bit first. Instead cooked the ones I had to just Al dente. Delicious!

Shells in microwave with broth or wine x 6 min. Shrimp thawed and in honey for hour. Carmelize onion and garlic. Put in frypan with onion garlic and shell extract. Cook shrimp and add lime juice.

If you don't make a little court bouillon with the shells, you're really missing out.

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