20 Minute Shrimp Pasta Mediterranean Style

Shrimp pasta, Mediterranean-style!

We’re pasta lovers around here, but there is a reason this one is top of my family’s list (along with pasta primavera and this olive oil pasta)! Shrimp and pasta are a match made in heaven! I’ll often serve my shrimp scampi over angel hair pasta. But this time, I tossed the shrimp in a a light Mediterranean sauce–with garlic, fresh tomatoes, white wine, and lemon juice. It is next level delicious. This garlic shrimp pasta recipe is like fine dining in the comfort of your own home. Best part, you can make it in 20 minutes or less! Time-Saving Tip: Get your pasta cooking, and while that’s happening, go ahead and cook your shrimp and prepare the sauce.

What kind of pasta to use?

Yes, the kind of pasta matters! Long, round pastas like spaghetti or angle hair pasta work really with with our light garlic lemon and wine sauce. Thinner pasta provides a beautiful delicate presentation and allows the elements of this shrimp pasta recipe to shine! I don’t recommend using tube-shaped pasta (like penne or rigatoni) in this recipe; they’re better suited for thick sauces like ragu. And if you’re following a strict Mediterranean diet, use whole grain pasta.

How do you cook shrimp for pasta?

Because shrimp cooks quickly, I find it best to cook it separately and then add it to the pasta a few seconds before serving. In this shrimp and pasta recipe, I simply cook the shrimp in my pan with a little bit of extra virgin olive oil. Depending on the size of the shrimp, this will take about 4 to 5 minutes in total.
How do you know when shrimp is done? It’s really easy to tell. Raw shrimp is grey and flappy, but you can tell it’s cooked when it turns a pearly pink color. Avoid over-cooking the shrimp, and remember that you’ll add them to the pasta for a few more seconds to warm up before serving.

How to make shrimp pasta?

(This is the step-by-step for those who need a visual. The recipe with ingredient measurements is just below)

Cook the pasta. Get the pasta cooking in boiling water according to package. Remember to add salt. Save a bit of the starchy pasta water before draining. Cook the shrimp. Do this while the pasta is cooking to save time. My shrimp took about 4 minutes, cooked in a bit of extra virgin olive oil over medium-high heat. (If your shrimp is frozen, it should be properly thawed before cooking)

Make the sauce. Remove the shrimp so you can us the same pan. Cook the onions and garlic with a bit of kosher salt, oregano and red pepper flakes (I used Aleppo-style pepper). Cook over medium/medium-low heat for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Add the wine and allow it to cook for a minute then add the lemon zest and lemon juice. Parsley and tomatoes join the party for just a few seconds (30 to 40 seconds or so). You want the tomatoes to still have a good bite.

Put it all together. Mix in the pasta, and if you need to, add a bit of pasta water. Toss to be sure the pasta is well-coated. Add the cooked shrimp and toss until warmed through. To finish, a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese, more red pepper flakes and parsley to your liking

I like to add a big salad to start. Panzanella (when tomatoes are in season), or this white bean salad for a hearty option.

Make ahead & Storage

To make this recipe ahead: Cook the pasta and prepare the sauce one night in advance. Store them separately in the fridge in tight-lid containers. Cook the shrimp the next day just before serving. Warm the sauce and the pasta over medium heat, adding a bit of pasta water as needed. Add in the just-cooked shrimp and toss to combine. Storage: Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for 2 nights (assuming the shrimp is fresh or had been properly stored in the freezer before cooking). Warm through over medium heat , adding a little bit if liquid if needed. I like to keep the shrimp out and add it in to warm through just before serving. This will avoid over-cooking the shrimp.