Garlic Herb Shrimp Bowtie Pasta
This Garlic Herb Shrimp Bowtie Pasta is bursting with fresh flavors and ready in under 30 minutes—a simple, elegant weeknight winner!
Equipment
- Large Pot
- Large skillet or sauté pan
- Colander
- Microplane or Zester
- Garlic press or knife
- Wooden spoon or tongs
- Citrus Juicer (optional)
Ingredients
- 8 oz Bowtie Pasta dried
- 1 lb Shrimp peeled and deveined, medium to large size
- 4 cloves Garlic minced finely
- 1/4 cup Olive Oil extra virgin
- 1 tsp Dried Oregano
- 1 tsp Dried Basil
- 1/2 tsp Red Pepper Flakes adjust to taste
- 1 Lemon zest and juice
- Salt and Pepper to taste
- Fresh Parsley chopped for garnish
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 8 ounces of bowtie pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente—usually about 10-12 minutes. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water, then drain the pasta and set aside.
- While the pasta cooks, pat 1 pound of peeled and deveined shrimp dry. Season lightly with salt and pepper.
- Heat 1/4 cup olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 4 cloves of minced garlic, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, 1 teaspoon dried basil, and 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes. Sauté for about 1-2 minutes until fragrant, careful not to burn the garlic.
- Add the shrimp to the skillet in a single layer. Cook for 2-3 minutes on one side until pink and slightly opaque, then flip and cook another 1-2 minutes. Remove the shrimp from the skillet and set aside.
- Add the drained bowtie pasta to the skillet with the garlic herb oil. Toss to coat, adding reserved pasta water a little at a time if the mixture feels dry. Return the shrimp to the pan.
- Zest and juice one lemon over the pasta and shrimp mixture. Toss everything together well to combine and infuse the bright citrus notes.
- Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed. Sprinkle freshly chopped parsley over the top before serving.
Notes
- Don’t overcook shrimp; remove them from heat as soon as they turn pink for the best texture.
- Reserve pasta water to help the sauce cling to the noodles and add silkiness.
- Add a splash of white wine to the garlic herb oil before cooking shrimp for extra flavor.
- For a creamier texture, stir in cream cheese or heavy cream after adding the pasta.
- Adjust or omit red pepper flakes to control the dish’s heat level.