Easy shrimp scampi without wine, add pasta and youll have dinner in less than 30 minutes. A classic shrimp scampi linguine recipe that everyone will love. Interested in kid friendly recipes without wine? try this delicious no wine chicken Francese recipe. It is a winner!.
Shrimp scampi is a classic Italian-American dish that typically includes shrimp sautéed in garlic, butter, and white wine However, the wine can easily be omitted for those who prefer an alcohol-free version This article will provide a step-by-step guide on how to make delicious shrimp scampi without the wine.
Overview of Shrimp Scampi
Shrimp scampi consists of large shrimp that are sautéed in an herbed garlic butter sauce. The term “scampi” refers to a style of preparation that involves cooking seafood with wine and garlic. Traditional shrimp scampi uses white wine, but it can be made without alcohol.
The garlic butter sauce is bursting with flavor from the garlic, lemon juice, parsley, and red pepper flakes. It coats each shrimp in a rich, velvety emulsion. The shrimp turn out tender and succulent from the quick sauté.
Shrimp scampi is usually served over a bed of hot pasta, rice, or with crusty bread for dipping. It makes a fast and easy weeknight meal that feels elegant and restaurant-worthy.
How to Make Shrimp Scampi Without Wine
Making shrimp scampi without wine is just as flavorful, if not more, than the traditional preparation. Here is a step-by-step overview:
Ingredients Needed
- Shrimp – peeled, deveined large shrimp
- Pasta – angel hair, spaghetti, or linguine
- Butter – unsalted butter provides the best flavor
- Olive oil
- Garlic – minced garlic or garlic paste
- Chicken or vegetable broth
- Lemon – juice and zest
- Parsley – fresh chopped Italian parsley
- Red pepper flakes (optional) – add heat to taste
- Salt and pepper
- Parmesan cheese (optional)
Step 1 – Cook the Pasta
Start by cooking the pasta according to package instructions. Reserve about 1⁄2 cup of the starchy pasta cooking water. This will help emulsify the sauce later on.
Step 2 – Sauté the Shrimp
In a large skillet, melt 1-2 tablespoons of butter with 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat. When hot, add the shrimp in an even layer and cook for 1-2 minutes per side until pink Remove shrimp and set aside.
Step 3 – Make the Garlic Sauce
Reduce heat to medium-low and add more olive oil and butter. Cook garlic and red pepper flakes until fragrant, about 1 minute.
Step 4 – Deglaze the Pan
Pour in chicken or vegetable broth and lemon juice, scraping any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Allow to simmer for 2-3 minutes.
Step 5 – Finish the Sauce
Stir in lemon zest parsley salt, and pepper. Pour in the reserved pasta water. Bring sauce to a simmer and allow it to reduce slightly.
Step 6 – Toss with Pasta
Add the cooked pasta and shrimp to the sauce. Toss everything to coat, adding more pasta water if needed to thin out the sauce.
Step 7 – Finish and Serve
Remove pan from heat. Stir in Parmesan cheese if desired. Garnish with extra parsley and red pepper flakes. Serve shrimp scampi immediately while hot.
Tips for Making the Best Shrimp Scampi
- Use extra virgin olive oil for the best flavor
- Cook shrimp just until opaque and pink – be careful not to overcook
- Allow sauce to reduce slightly to concentrate flavors
- Add more red pepper flakes if you like spicy food
- Use fresh, high-quality ingredients for optimal flavor
- Skip the tails on shrimp for easy eating
- Substitute clam juice or fish stock for a seafood taste
- Serve with crusty bread, pasta, or rice to soak up sauce
- Garnish with lemon wedges, fresh herbs, or Parmesan
FAQs
What can I substitute for white wine?
Some good alternatives include chicken broth, clam juice, vegetable broth, fish stock, or water. For added flavor, you can use a splash of lemon juice as well.
Do you really need wine for shrimp scampi?
No, wine is an optional ingredient. You can achieve a very similar flavor without it by using broth, lemon, and plenty of garlic.
Is shrimp scampi supposed to be saucy?
Yes, traditional shrimp scampi features a buttery garlic sauce. The sauce should coat the shrimp and pasta or rice. Adding starchy pasta water helps create an emulsified sauce that clings to the pasta.
Can I make shrimp scampi ahead of time?
It’s best to assemble shrimp scampi right before serving. You can prep your ingredients ahead. But wait until ready to eat before cooking the shrimp and tossing everything together. Shrimp scampi won’t hold well or reheat well.
Conclusion
Shrimp scampi is meant to be a quick, flavorful weeknight meal. By sautéing shrimp in an herbed garlic butter sauce, you can create an easy pasta dish that feels elegant and satisfying. Don’t be afraid to omit the wine – the garlic, lemon, and spices provide plenty of complexity. Just be sure not to overcook the shrimp. They should turn pink and curl up but still remain tender. Served over hot pasta or rice, this classic recipe will become a regular rotation in your weeknight dinner lineup.
Shrimp Scampi Recipe Without Wine
- ▢ 1 lb linguine pasta.
- ▢ ¼ cup butter.
- ▢ ¼ cup olive oil.
- ▢ 2 Tablespoons minced garlic.
- ▢ Salt and pepper to taste.
- ▢ ¼ – ⅓ cup lemon juice.
- ▢ ¾ cup water/chicken broth/ shrimp stock. See notes *
- ▢ ½ cup fresh parsley chopped.
- ▢ Lemon zest optional.**
- ▢ Red chili flakes optional.
- ▢ 2 lb large shrimps peeled and divined.
- Follow the directions on the package to cook the pasta. Save half a cup of the cooking water (see notes for how to do that). ***.
- Melt the butter and olive oil in a large pot over medium-low heat. Then add the shrimp and cook them until most of them turn pink. About 2 minutes.
- After you add the garlic, cook the shrimp for one more minute, until they are all pink.
- Turn down the heat and add the parsley, salt, pepper, lemon juice, shrimp stock, and the half cup of pasta cooking water you saved (if you want to).
- Stir everything well and cook for two minutes.
- Mix the cooked pasta into the sauce, then turn off the heat.
- If you want, you can serve it with extra parsley and red pepper flakes on top.
❤️ Why You’ll Love It
Garlicky Buttery Shrimp Scamp is the best and most welcomed shrimp recipe around my dinner table. You can make this shrimp scampi recipe without wine and give it to your kids or eat it yourself if you are on a no-alcohol diet. Substituting alcohol is some recipes is not hard at all. Take for example this rich tiramisu recipe without alcohol, turned out great and did not affect its deliciousness.
Shrimp with pasta is a light, quick, easy, kid-friendly, one-pan, 30-minute recipe that doesn’t take much thought. No wonder I love it, it is my kind of recipes.
Note: This is an overview of the instructions. The detailed instructions are in the recipe card below.
Here are the steps you need to follow to make the recipe. See how easy it is?
- First off, I need to tell you a quick trick. It’s important to cook the shrimp just until they turn pink, not until they get tough like tires We have to work fast, which makes this dish look even better.
- First, heat up a pan with a lot of butter and olive oil. Then, add the shrimp and cook until most of them turn pink, but not all of them.
- Put in a lot more garlic and stir for a minute or two.
- Turn down the heat and add the parsley, lemon juice, zest (if you want), salt, and pepper.
- Add the shrimp stock/water or chicken broth and mix well.
- Add the cooked pasta, then turn off the heat and mix the pasta well with the rest of the ingredients.
If you want more sauce, you can add half a cup of the pasta water to the pan. The starch in the water will make the sauce a little thicker, which will help it stick to the pasta better. As much as I tried both ways, I didn’t notice a big difference. But some people say it does For us it was great anyways.
Scampi is a small crustacean that looks like a lobster. In the United States, it has been switched with shrimp. The sauce is a simple garlic, white wine and butter sauce. Very flavorful and goes very well with pasta or can be mopped with bread or rice.
Well, you can use chicken broth or water as a substitute for white wine. Here though, I have used shrimp stock. So what is shrimp stock is exactly? Simple, do not throw away your shrimp shells. Simmer shrimp shells in water or microwave for a couple of minutes, strain and discard the shells. The shrimp shells are wonderful flavor enhancers and should not be discarded.
