The Shrimp That Tastes Like Vacation
Some dinners don't transport you because they're expensive. They do it because one bite of this garlic shrimp pasta reminds you exactly how summer is supposed to feel.
Friday Postcard 5 • Shrimp, Pasta & Lemon
I don't remember where I first had it.
Maybe that's fitting.
Because this shrimp isn't really about a restaurant.
It's about the feeling.
Garlic sizzling in butter.
Fresh lemon squeezed at the very end.
A little heat from red pepper flakes.
Parsley scattered across the top.
Served over pasta.
Or beside crusty bread that's only there to soak up every last drop of sauce.
It's the kind of dinner you make barefoot.
The kitchen windows are open.
Music is playing.
Someone asks if dinner is almost ready.
You answer, "Just a few more minutes."
The smell reaches the porch before the food ever does.
Summer has a way of making ordinary evenings feel like celebrations.
Maybe because daylight lingers.
Maybe because nobody minds if dinner starts a little late.
Maybe because vacations remind us how life feels when we're paying attention.
I've started bringing that feeling home instead of waiting for a trip.
Sometimes all it takes is shrimp, garlic, lemon, and enough butter to convince yourself you're somewhere near the water.
Tucked Into This Postcard
Recipe
Linguine Pasta: Thin, light noodles that are perfect paired with sauce and shrimp.
Olive Oil and Butter: Sauteing the shrimp in the combination of olive oil and butter is the key to a great texture in the shrimp.
Garlic: Add the garlic into the oil with the red pepper until fragrant.
Red Pepper Flakes: Adds a little heat and extra flavor.
Large Shrimp: The bigger size holds up better to the pasta.
Salt and Pepper: To taste.
Italian Seasonings: The Italian seasoning is the perfect flavor combination with this garlic-infused pasta sauce.
Baby Spinach: Add it at the end so it wilts perfectly without getting soggy.
Parmesan Cheese: Combine with the shrimp and pasta after they are cooked.
Lemon Juice: To taste (one tablespoon is a good place to start).
Kitchen Favorite
A cast iron skillet that's seen hundreds of summer dinners.
Currently Reading
Braiding Sweetgrass— Robin Wall Kimmerer
See you next Friday.
— Annie
Looking for another summer favorite? Try The Taste of Summer, my fresh tomato basil recipe that's perfect alongside this pasta.