Shrimp Scampi with Zucchini Noodles
 
Prep time
Total time
 
Zucchini noodles are an ideal gluten-free alternative to pasta. Zucchini has a mild flavor and a similar texture to linguine, so we find it is the ultimate partner to this lemony, garlicky sauce with seared shrimp. This is a lighter, healthier alternative to an old Italian standard.
Author:
Recipe type: Dinner
Serves: 4
Ingredients
  • 1 pound large shrimp (31/35 count), peeled, deveined, and butterflied
  • Kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon baking soda
  • 4 medium zucchini (about 2 pounds), or 2 pounds store-bought zucchini noodles
  • 5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more as needed
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic
  • 1 small fresh red chile pepper (such as cayenne or Thai bird), thinly sliced
  • 2 teaspoons capers, drained
  • ½ cup dry vermouth or dry white wine
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
  • 1 teaspoon chopped fresh tarragon
  • Freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
  1. In a medium bowl, combine the shrimp, ½ teaspoon salt, and the baking soda. Mix well until evenly coated. Set aside at room temperature for 10 minutes or refrigerate for up to 1 hour.
  2. Cut the zucchini into noodles using a vegetable spiralizer, according to the manufacturer’s directions. Place the spiralized zucchini in a bowl lined with paper towel or a tea towel to removeany excess water.
  3. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil until shimmering. Add half the shrimp in one layer, cut-sidedown with the tails sticking up, and cook undisturbed until pink, 1½ to 2 minutes. Flip and cook, turning and stirring the shrimp occasionally, for an additional 2 minutes. Transfer the shrimp to amedium bowl. Repeat with the remaining shrimp, adding more oil to the pan if needed. Set aside.
  4. Wipe the skillet clean, return it to medium heat, and add 1 tablespoon of the olive oil, the garlic, and chile pepper. Cook, stirring, until the garlic starts to turn golden brown, about 1 minute. Add the capers and cook for an additional minute, making sure the garlic doesn’t burn.
  5. Add the vermouth, raise the heat to high, and stir until the liquid has reduced by half, about 3 minutes. Add the butter and stir until melted. Remove from the heat and stir in the lemon zest, lemon juice, parsley, tarragon, ½ teaspoon salt, and ⅛ teaspoon black pepper. Pour the sauce over the shrimp and toss until well coated; set aside.
  6. Wipe the skillet clean, return it to medium-high heat, and add the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil. When the oil is very hot, add the zucchini noodles and cook, stirring continuously, for 2 minutes. Transfer the shrimp and all of the sauce to the skillet, mix into the zucchini, and cook for an additional minute. Season with salt and black pepper. Transfer to a serving bowl and serve hot.
Notes
Reprinted from Mostly Plants: 101 Delicious Flexitarian Recipes from the Pollan Family. Copyright © 2019 by Old Harvest Way, LLC. Published by Harper Wave, an imprint of Harper Collins Publishers.
Recipe by Jennifer Tyler Lee at https://www.52newfoods.com/shrimp-scampi-zucchini-noodles-pollan-mostly-plants-cookbook/