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Flavorful Brown Butter Garlic Shrimp Pasta with Spinach and Lemon Zest

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A quick and easy shrimp pasta dish featuring nutty brown butter, garlicky shrimp, fresh spinach, and bright lemon zest for a restaurant-worthy meal in about 25 minutes.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound (450g) large shrimp, peeled and deveined (fresh or thawed frozen)
  • 8 ounces (225g) linguine or spaghetti (gluten-free pasta optional)
  • 4 tablespoons (about 55g) unsalted butter
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 cups (about 90g) baby spinach, washed and dried
  • Zest of 1 lemon
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
  • Freshly grated Parmesan cheese for serving (optional)

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook 8 ounces (225g) of linguine according to package instructions until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Reserve 1/2 cup (120ml) of pasta water before draining.
  2. While pasta is cooking, melt 4 tablespoons (55g) unsalted butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Stir and watch closely until it foams and turns golden brown with a nutty aroma, about 3-4 minutes. Remove from heat to avoid burning.
  3. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil to the skillet with the browned butter. Turn heat to medium-high. Add shrimp seasoned lightly with salt and pepper. Sauté for 2 minutes per side until shrimp turn pink and opaque. Remove shrimp and set aside.
  4. Reduce heat to medium. Add minced garlic to the skillet and stir for about 30 seconds until fragrant but not browned. Toss in baby spinach and cook until just wilted, about 1-2 minutes. Add red pepper flakes if using.
  5. Return shrimp to skillet. Add drained pasta and lemon zest. Pour in reserved pasta water slowly, about 1/4 cup (60ml) at a time, tossing to coat evenly and create a light sauce.
  6. Squeeze in fresh lemon juice. Taste and adjust salt and pepper as needed. Toss everything together until well combined and glossy.
  7. Plate the pasta and sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley and freshly grated Parmesan cheese if desired. Serve immediately while warm.

Notes

Do not rush browning the butter to avoid bitterness. Reserve pasta water to help sauce cling to noodles. Avoid overcooking shrimp to prevent rubberiness. For dairy-free, substitute butter with olive oil and skip Parmesan or use vegan cheese.

Nutrition

Keywords: shrimp pasta, brown butter, garlic shrimp, spinach pasta, lemon zest, quick dinner, easy pasta recipe, weeknight meal

Find it online: https://magnetmeal.com/flavorful-brown-butter-garlic-shrimp-pasta-recipe-easy-best-spinach-lemon-zest/