Shrimp and Broccoli Scampi

Scampi is the Italian word for “prawn.”  It’s also the name for an Italian-American dish called Shrimp Scampi, referring to shrimp that has been cooked in garlic butter or oil, plus a splash of wine.  It’s topped over pasta, which soaks up the delicious sauce.  

This is a lighter version that is every bit as good, substituting chicken stock and lemon juice for wine, and cutting out the butter and back on the oil. 

If you keep a bag of shrimp in the freezer, and broccoli as well, like I do; then, you have the ingredients on-hand for a quick dish for dinner to go along with a green salad and hot garlic bread!

Shrimp and Broccoli Scampi

Ingredients: 
8 ounces thin spaghetti

12 ounces broccoli florets
Cooking spray
1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 tablespoon olive oil
12 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup unsalted chicken stock
1 tablespoon water
1 tablespoon cornstarch
¼ cup finely chopped parsley
2 tablespoons lemon juice
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon pepper
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese

Method:

Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt.
Add broccoli in the last 2 minutes of cooking; drain well.
Heat large skillet over high heat and coat pan with cooking spray.
Add shrimp, cook 2 minutes on each side; remove from pan.
Heat butter and oil in pan over medium-low heat.
Add garlic, sauté 1 minute.
Add stock, bring to a boil, scraping pan to loosen browned bits.
Combine water and cornstarch in a small bowl.
Stir cornstarch mixture into stock mixture, cook 1 minute.
Stir in shrimp, pasta mixture, parsley, juice, salt and pepper.
Cook 1 minute, tossing to coat.
Sprinkle with Parmesan.
Serves 4 

ENJOY!