Description
Lemon and Broccoli Pasta with Shrimp: A zesty and flavorful dish featuring succulent shrimp, vibrant broccoli, and tangy lemon sauce. Quick and comforting!
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz (340g) linguine or spaghetti
- 1 lb (450g) large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 4 cups (280g) broccoli florets, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 4 tablespoons (60ml) extra-virgin olive oil, divided
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
- Zest and juice of 2 lemons (about 4-5 tablespoons juice)
- ½ cup (50g) freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
- ¼ cup (15g) fresh parsley, chopped
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Step 1: Cook the Pasta Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a rolling boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente, usually 8-10 minutes. Before draining, reserve 1 cup of the starchy pasta water. Drain the pasta but don’t rinse it—the starch helps the sauce adhere better.
- Step 2: Prepare the Shrimp While the pasta cooks, pat the shrimp dry with paper towels and season with salt and pepper. Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the shrimp in a single layer (work in batches if necessary) and cook for 1-2 minutes per side until they turn pink and opaque. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
- Step 3: Cook the Broccoli In the same skillet, add 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Add the broccoli florets and cook for 3-4 minutes until bright green and slightly tender. Add 2 tablespoons of water to the pan and cover for 1 minute to steam the broccoli. Remove the lid and continue cooking until the water evaporates and the broccoli is tender-crisp.
- Step 4: Create the Sauce Reduce the heat to medium-low and add the remaining tablespoon of olive oil to the skillet. Add the minced garlic and red pepper flakes, cooking for 30 seconds until fragrant (be careful not to burn the garlic). Pour in the lemon juice and zest, stirring to combine and scraping up any flavorful bits from the bottom of the pan.
- Step 5: Combine Everything Add the drained pasta to the skillet along with ¼ cup of the reserved pasta water, tossing to coat. Return the shrimp to the pan, then add the Parmesan cheese and another ¼ cup of pasta water, tossing continuously until a silky sauce forms. If the pasta seems dry, add more pasta water as needed. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
- Step 6: Finish and Serve Remove from heat and stir in the fresh parsley. Serve the Lemon and Broccoli Pasta with Shrimp immediately, topped with additional Parmesan cheese and a sprinkle of lemon zest if desired. For an extra punch of flavor, offer lemon wedges on the side.
Notes
Fresh ingredients will always yield the best flavor results.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 680mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 46g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 27g
- Cholesterol: 190mg