How to Make Shrimp Scampi

Shrimp scampi is a simple but elegant dish which can be used for a romantic meal such as a Valentines Day dinner or a birthday meal for a special person. Easy shrimp scampi is prepared with minimal effort and few ingredients. The variations, which may be made during preparation, can influence the taste, the length of preparation, and the cost of the dish.

Shrimp scampi recipes vary in the ingredients to use and can easily be adapted to what is on hand. The basic ingredients involve the seafood itself, something to sauté it in, and seasonings. Simple shrimp scampi recipes may include just the peeled shrimp, butter or olive oil, and prepared dry seasonings. More complicated recipes may call for sautéing chopped garlic or peppers along with the shrimp or may use a breading or cheese topping. How complex the dish preparation is, can be adapted to the cooking skills of the person preparing it. Follow these tips for making a simple shrimp scampi recipe, or stepping it up to an elegant shrimp scampi, and then review variations in seasonings and serving suggestions to make a shrimp scampi meal more enjoyable.

How to Make Easy Shrimp Scampi

Prepare a skillet for sautéing the shrimp by melting 3 tablespoons of butter or adding 3 tablespoons of olive oil. Add 1 teaspoon of lemon pepper season salt and ¼ to ½ teaspoon of minced garlic. Once the butter is melted, add a pound of shelled and deveined shrimp and sauté until pink. Serve immediately.

Make an Elegant Shrimp Scampi

For a more formal version of a simple seafood dish, a stuffed version of shrimp scampi may be prepared. The dish is started by shelling, deveining and butterflying a pound of large shrimp. To butterfly, simply slice down the outer edge of the shrimp so it will lay flat. Do not slice it all the way through.

Mix together the following ingredients to make a stuffing:
½ cup seasoned bread crumbs
¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
1 clove garlic finely chopped
3 tablespoons lemon juice
¼ cup melted butter

When all ingredients are wet, place a small amount of the stuffing on each piece of butterflied shrimp and secured closed with a toothpick. Place the shrimp in a buttered glass baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. For a crispy stuffing, broil the shrimp for a few minutes once they are cooked.

Shrimp Scampi Variations and Serving Suggestions

Seasonings for shrimp scampi may include the lemon pepper variation provided above or may be changed to suit the likes of the diner. Basil, thyme, or oregano can be used for Italian shrimp scampi. A sauce may be made by adding crushed tomato to the seasonings. For a spicier shrimp scampi, add chipotle peppers to the garlic when sautéing.

Shrimp scampi can be eaten alone or may be served over rice or pasta, or with Italian bread. To add a sauce to the scampi, combine a cup of white wine with 2 tablespoons each of prepared mustard and Worcestershire sauce in the skillet with the drippings. Heat on high for 3 minutes and then return the shrimp to the pan. Add ½ cup melted butter and 2 tablespoons lemon juice to the sauce and simmer for two minutes.

No matter the skill level of the cook, shrimp scampi is a meal, which can be prepared. Researching the available possibilities after considering on hand ingredients may allow for adding a tasty seafood dish to the evening meal.