Easy Healthy Shrimp Scampi with Lemon-Garlic Sauce
Enjoy a classic favorite with a wholesome twist! This Easy Healthy Shrimp Scampi features tender shrimp and whole wheat pasta in a bright lemon-garlic sauce, ready in under 20 minutes. It's light, flavorful, and can be a great part of a DASH-friendly lifestyle when daily sodium is considered.
Servings 3
Calories 345kcal
Ingredients
- Whole Wheat Linguine or Spaghetti: 6 oz 170g
- Unsalted Butter: 2 tablespoons 28g
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil: 1 tablespoon 15ml
- Garlic: 1.5 tablespoons minced (about 4-5 medium cloves)
- Red Pepper Flakes: 1/4 teaspoon or to taste
- Precooked Small Shrimp: 3/4 cup approx. 3 oz or 85g, thawed, peeled, deveined, and tail-off
- Low-Sodium Chicken Broth: 2 tablespoons 30ml
- Fresh Lemon Juice: 1.5 - 2 tablespoons from about 1/2 large lemon, approx. 25-30ml
- Fresh Parsley: 2 tablespoons finely chopped
- Freshly Ground Black Pepper: to taste
- Salt: ½ teaspoon
- Lemon wedges for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Cook the whole wheat pasta according to package directions until al dente. To align with DASH diet recommendations, avoid adding salt to the pasta water. Just before draining, reserve about 1/4 cup of the pasta cooking water. Drain the pasta.
- Start Sauce: While the pasta is boiling, prepare the sauce. In a spacious skillet or sauté pan, melt the unsalted butter with the extra virgin olive oil over medium-low heat.
- Sauté Aromatics: Once the butter is melted and appears foamy, stir in the minced garlic and red pepper flakes. Sauté for about 45-60 seconds until the garlic is fragrant and lightly golden, being careful not to brown it.
- Heat Shrimp: Introduce the thawed precooked shrimp to the pan. Toss them gently to coat with the garlic-oil mixture. Pour in the low-sodium chicken broth. Allow the mixture to come to a gentle simmer and cook for 2-3 minutes, just until the shrimp are thoroughly heated through.
- Finish Sauce: Remove the skillet from the heat. Squeeze in the fresh lemon juice. Stir in the ½ teaspoon of salt, 1.5 tablespoons of the chopped fresh parsley, and freshly ground black pepper to taste. If the sauce seems too thick, you can add a tablespoon or two of the reserved pasta water to reach your desired consistency.
- Serve: Portion the cooked pasta into three warm bowls. Ladle the lemon-garlic shrimp and sauce evenly over each serving. Garnish with the remaining 1/2 tablespoon of fresh parsley and a lemon wedge on the side, if desired.
Notes
Nutrition Information (per serving, approximate)
- Calories: 345 kcal
- Protein: 14.2 g
- Total Fat: 14.1 g
- Saturated Fat: 5.8 g
- Carbohydrates: 44.0 g
- Fiber: 6.0 g
- Sugars: 1.9 g
- Sodium: 495 mg