Cajun Shrimp Scampi

Step 1

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to the package instructions. Before draining the pasta, reserve ¼ cup of the pasta water. Note: You may not need to use whole amount of reserved water.

Step 2

Pat the shrimp dry with a paper towel. Place the shrimp in a mixing bowl and season with Cajun seasoning, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Toss to combine and set aside.

Step 3

While the pasta is cooking, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the butter and olive oil. Once the butter has melted, add the minced garlic, crushed red pepper flakes, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon black pepper. Sauté for one minute, stirring frequently.

Step 4

Pour the white wine into the skillet and cook until it has reduced by half, about 3-5 minutes.

Step 5

Add the seasoned shrimp to the skillet and cook for 3-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the shrimp are cooked through and pink.

Step 6

Turn off the heat and add the freshly squeezed lemon juice and chopped parsley to the sauce. Add the cooked pasta and the reserved pasta water to the skillet, if needed. Add pasta water 1 Tablespoon at a time until the sauce is at your desired consistency. Toss everything together until well combined and the pasta is evenly coated with the sauce. Serve immediately.