Home

Spaghetti with Scampi

17/11/2023

Spaghetti with scampi is a classic of Mediterranean cuisine, a simple yet elegant dish that brings out the sweet flavor of the scampi. Here’s how to prepare this delicious dish.

Ingredients

  • 320 g of spaghetti
  • 400 g of scampi (fresh or frozen)
  • 2 cloves of garlic
  • 1 bunch of fresh parsley
  • 200 ml of dry white wine
  • 10 cherry tomatoes
  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • Salt to taste
  • Pepper to taste (optional)
  • Red chili flakes to taste (optional)

Preparation

  1. If you are using fresh scampi, start by cleaning them: remove the head and the shell but leave the filament of the last tail attached. Remove the intestine by pulling the filament. If you are using frozen scampi, make sure they are completely defrosted before beginning.
  2. Put a large pot of water on to boil, add salt to taste, and bring to a boil for cooking the spaghetti.
  3. In the meantime, heat a drizzle of oil in a large pan and add the garlic cloves, peeled, let them slowly turn golden. If you like, you can also add a bit of chili to give the dish a spicy kick.
  4. Add the scampi to the pan with the garlic and sauté for a couple of minutes on each side, then deglaze with the white wine and let the alcohol evaporate on high heat.
  5. Lower the flame and cover the pan, letting the scampi cook for another 5 minutes (if fresh they may require a few more minutes).
  6. Add the cherry tomatoes, cut in halves or quarters, and cook for another 2-3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  7. When the water boils, cook the spaghetti al dente according to the package instructions. Drain the pasta (reserving some of the cooking water) and transfer it to the pan with the scampi.
  8. Toss the spaghetti by stirring it in the pan with the scampi sauce and, if necessary, add a little cooking water to make it creamier.
  9. Turn off the heat and add chopped fresh parsley.
  10. Plate the spaghetti and garnish each dish with the scampi.

Serve immediately to fully enjoy the flavor and texture of this magnificent dish.

Curiosity

This dish has coastal origins, and its simplicity is based on letting the freshness of the seafood speak for itself. In some variations, you’ll find the addition of a touch of cream to make the dish creamier, but the traditional Mediterranean recipe calls for the use of only oil and white wine to enhance the natural flavor of the scampi.

Spaghetti with scampi