Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta

Ingredients

Instructions

1. 1Boil the pastaBring a large pot of well salted water to a boil and cook the pasta until just shy of al dente, usually 1 minute less than the package says. Before draining, scoop out 1 cup of the starchy pasta water and set it aside.
2. 2Season the shrimpWhile the water heats, pat the shrimp dry and season them with a good pinch of salt and pepper. Drying them well is what lets them sear instead of steam.
3. 3Sear the shrimpHeat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium high. Add the shrimp in a single layer and cook for about 1 minute per side, just until pink and opaque. Move them to a plate so they do not overcook.
4. 4Build the garlic butterLower the heat to medium and melt the butter in the same skillet. Add the sliced garlic and red pepper flakes and cook gently for 1 to 2 minutes until fragrant and barely golden. Do not let the garlic brown or it turns bitter.
5. 5Toss it togetherAdd the drained pasta to the skillet along with half the pasta water and the juice of the lemon. Toss hard for a minute so the sauce clings, adding more pasta water as needed to keep it glossy. Return the shrimp, then stir in the parsley and parmesan and serve right away.