Description
Creamy Asparagus Shrimp Angel Hair brings together tender shrimp and crisp asparagus in a light, silky pasta that makes your dinner feel like a restaurant-quality meal at home. Tossed with garlic, lemon, and Parmesan, this quick dish delivers maximum flavor with minimal effort.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
Carbohydrates:
- 8 ounces angel hair pasta
- 1 bunch asparagus
Seasonings and Fats:
- 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ¼ cup dry white wine or chicken broth
- Zest and juice of 1 large lemon
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Garnish (Optional):
- ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil at 212°F. Add 8 ounces of angel hair pasta and cook for 3-4 minutes until it reaches al dente texture. Set aside ½ cup of pasta water before draining.
- Drop 1 bunch of asparagus pieces into the same boiling water during the last 2 minutes of pasta cooking. Transfer asparagus to an ice bath immediately to halt cooking process.
- Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet at medium-high heat (375°F). Season 1 pound of shrimp with salt and pepper. Sear shrimp for 1-2 minutes per side until they turn pink.
- Remove shrimp from the skillet and set aside. Reduce heat to medium and add remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil with 4 cloves of minced garlic and ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes.
- Sauté garlic for 30 seconds, ensuring it doesn’t burn. Pour ¼ cup white wine into the skillet, scraping up browned bits from the pan.
- Simmer wine for 1-2 minutes until liquid reduces by half. Stir in lemon zest, 2 tablespoons butter, and lemon juice.
- Add drained pasta, blanched asparagus, and seared shrimp back to the skillet. Gently toss ingredients, incorporating reserved pasta water as needed to create a smooth sauce.
- Season the entire dish with salt and pepper to taste. If desired, sprinkle ¼ cup chopped parsley and ¼ cup Parmesan cheese over the top.
- Transfer to serving plates immediately. Serve hot, ensuring each portion contains a balanced mix of pasta, shrimp, and asparagus.
Notes
- Always salt your pasta water generously to ensure the pasta has flavor from the start.
- Blanching asparagus in the same water keeps the cooking process simple and preserves nutrients.
- Pat shrimp dry before searing to help them develop a beautiful golden color and prevent steaming.
- Add reserved pasta water slowly when tossing the final dish, as this starchy liquid helps create a smooth, silky sauce that clings perfectly to the pasta.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Shrimp
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 180 mg