Shrimp Scampi : Mad Hungry

The beauty of this dish is that it can be served many ways: over rice, tossed with pasta, plain with a side of crusty herb buttered bread, or as an appetizer with small toothpicks. And don't forget: the shrimp for this recipe needs to be shelled and deveined.

INGREDIENTS

1 pound pasta, or 3 cups cooked rice
Coarse salt
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
2 pounds large shrimp, peeled and deveined
Freshly ground black pepper
5 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, plus more for garnish
1 1/2 tablespoons freshly grated lemon zest
1/4 cup white wine
Juice of 1 lemon
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley leaves

DIRECTIONS

Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and a generous pinch of salt and cook until al dente. Drain the pasta, reserving 1/2 cup of the pasta water.
Meanwhile, heat a large saute pan over high heat. Add 1 1/2 tablespoons of the oil and swirl it to coat the pan. Add the shrimp in a single layer. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. After 2 minutes, turn the shrimp over; add the remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons of oil, the garlic, and the red pepper flakes. Stir constantly for 1 to 2 minutes, regulating the heat to avoid burning the garlic.
Add the lemon zest and white wine to the shrimp. Stir to reduce the wine slightly. Add the lemon juice, cooked pasta, and reserved pasta water to the pan. Toss to combine. Remove from the heat and sprinkle with the parsley. Serve with a drizzle of olive oil and extra red pepper flakes on each serving.