
This lemon garlic shrimp pasta is bright, savory, and deeply flavorful thanks to a quick homemade shrimp stock. Juicy shrimp, cherry tomatoes, parsley, and glossy pasta water sauce make it feel restaurant-worthy without being heavy.
Peel and devein the shrimp or prawns, leaving the tails on if you like. Reserve the heads and shells for the stock.
Place the shrimp heads and shells in a saucepan. Discard the veins.
If any shrimp are very large, slice them in half lengthwise so they cook evenly.
In a bowl, toss the shrimp with 2 minced garlic cloves and 2 tbsp olive oil. Cover and let them marinate at room temperature while you prepare the stock.
Add the stock, water, white wine, and onion to the saucepan with the shrimp shells. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to a lively simmer.
As the stock simmers, crush the shells and heads with a potato masher or wooden spoon a few times to extract more flavor.
Simmer until the liquid reduces to about 1 to 1 1/2 cups. Strain into a bowl, discard the solids, and return the stock to the pot. Keep warm until needed.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the spaghetti and cook until just shy of al dente; it will finish cooking in the sauce.
While the pasta cooks, heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large deep skillet over high heat. Add the shrimp in a single layer and cook for about 1 minute per side, just until pink. Transfer to a plate and loosely cover.
Add the remaining 2 tbsp olive oil and 1 minced garlic clove to the same skillet, including any garlic-oil marinade left in the bowl. Cook briefly, just until fragrant.
Use tongs to transfer the pasta directly into the skillet. Add 3/4 cup pasta cooking water and the cherry tomatoes, then toss for about 1 minute until the sauce turns glossy and lightly coats the pasta.
Add the lemon zest, lemon juice, parsley, chili flakes if using, and cooked shrimp. Toss quickly to combine.
Pour in the warm shrimp stock and toss again so the pasta is evenly coated. Remove the pan from the heat immediately to avoid overcooking the shrimp.
Taste and season with salt and black pepper as needed.
Serve right away with a drizzle of extra olive oil, extra lemon wedges, and more parsley if desired.
Parmesan is not traditional with seafood pasta, but it can be served on the side if preferred.
For the best flavor, use shell-on raw shrimp or prawns so you can make the quick stock. Do not overcook the shrimp; they only need a minute or so per side before being returned to the pasta. If you do not want to use wine, replace it with extra fish stock, chicken stock, or water plus a small squeeze of lemon. This dish is best served immediately, but leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 2 days and gently reheated with a splash of water.




