Holiday Comfort - Florida Gulf Shrimp and Lemony Pasta

Learn how to make an Authentic Florida dish for the holidays.

Looking for something to add to your holiday “comfort” menu? Florida Gulf Shrimp and Pasta may be the perfect go-to dish for your busy holiday season. It’s simple to make, full of flavor and incorporates local seafood: Florida Gulf Shrimp. Florida’s tasty seafood, particularly Gulf Shrimp, is something we love to enjoy year around, but especially during the holidays.

Most food markets have shrimp available in the seafood section, but if you want to be sure you are buying it Florida fresh, stop by any of these local markets: Walt’s Seafood Market, Big Water Fish Market, Detwilers, Captain Brian’s Seafood Market and Maggie’s Seafood, which is located at the Downtown Sarasota Farmer’s Market.

Savor the lemony flavor of this dish while enjoying its lightness. This dish serves up a no-fuss all-in-one meal to make your holidays sparkle.

Florida Gulf Shrimp & Lemony Pasta

Recipe Ingredients:
Vegetable oil
1 tablespoon kosher salt for pasta, plus 1 1/2 teaspoons for sauce
3/4 pound linguine pasta
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 1/2 tablespoons good olive oil
1 1/2 tablespoons minced garlic (4 cloves)
1 pound large uncooked Gulf shrimp (about 16 shrimp), peeled and deveined
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley leaves
1/2 lemon, zest grated
1/4 cup freshly squeezed Florida lemon juice (2 lemons)
1/4 lemon, thinly sliced in half-rounds
1/8 teaspoon hot red pepper flakes

Recipe Directions

Step One: Assemble Ingredients & Preparation
Zest ½ lemon (using a rasp or grater). Juice 1 lemon or ¼ cup fresh lemon juice. Chop 1/3 cup of fresh parsley. Mince 4 cloves of garlic or 1½ tablespoons.

Step Two: Boil & Drain Pasta
Drizzle some oil in a large pot of boiling salted water, add 1 tablespoon of salt and the linguine, and cook for 7 to 10 minutes, or according to the directions on the package. Drain and set aside.

Step Three: Cook Garlic
Meanwhile, in another large (12-inch), heavy-bottomed pan, melt the butter and olive oil over medium-low heat. Add the garlic. Sauté for 1 minute. Be careful, garlic burns easily!

Step Four: Add Shrimp
Add the shrimp, 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt, and the pepper; sauté until the shrimp have just turned pink, about 3-5 minutes, stirring often.

Step Five: Add Ingredients
Remove from the heat, add the parsley, lemon zest, lemon juice, lemon slices, and red pepper flakes. Toss to combine

Step Six: Add Pasta & Serve
Take the drained pasta and add it to the shrimp in the pan. Using tongs, toss well in the pan - incorporating all the ingredients (like a salad) and serve.

Adapted from the Barefoot Contesssa’s Linguine With Shrimp Scampi.

Florida native Robin Draper is a columnist and owner of the award-winning 2015 “Blog of the Year” and “Best Travel Blog.” Her website, AuthenticFlorida.com, features travel, food and lifestyle topics.