Here’s a summer recipe that could possibly live in your memory for some time to come. As most of us know, shrimp get along well with garlic, butter and lemon, and so do tomatoes and corn. Combine them, and you get a summery shrimp scampi that comes together in one skillet.
A searing hot pan helps the tomatoes blister and the corn caramelize before they are coated in a garlic-lemon butter sauce. This is a meal in and of itself, but if you want to serve it with pasta or bread, they’d be welcome additions. In fact, if you do plan to serve 4 diners, you will definitely need some accompaniments, because it barely made 3 sufficient servings when we made it.
If not overly concerned with carbs, serve over orzo and/or with some crusty bread to mop up that incredible sauce is the way to go.
It was beyond delicious, even with frozen corn. So can you imagine if using fresh corn cut right off the cob? It wasn’t quite ready for picking at the time we made this, but when we replicate the recipe soon, you betcha we’ll use fresh corn!
The original recipe indicated it would take a total time of only 15 minutes. Impossible. Just cutting the kernels off the ears of corn takes 8 minutes or so. Realistically, it took the 2 of us just over a half hour from start to finish. Still, that’s not bad for such a scrumptious meal!
Summer Shrimp Scampi with Tomatoes and Corn
Ingredients
- 1 lb. large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- Kosher salt and black pepper
- 2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes
- 2 cups fresh or frozen corn kernels (from 4 ears)
- 5garlic cloves, minced
- ½ tsp. red-pepper flakes
- ¼ cup dry white wine
- 2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice (from 1 lemon), plus wedges for serving (optional)
- 5 Tbsp. unsalted butter, cut into 5 pieces
- 3 Tbsp. chopped parsley or chives, or torn basil leaves
Directions
- Pat the shrimp very dry and season with salt and pepper. In a large (12-inch) skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high. Add the shrimp and cook until pink and lightly golden in spots, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the shrimp to a plate.
- Add the tomatoes to the skillet, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring just once or twice, until they start to blister in spots, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the corn, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring just once or twice, until the tomatoes burst and the corn is golden in spots, 3 to 4 minutes.
- Add the garlic and red-pepper flakes and cook, stirring, until you smell garlic, about 1 minute.
- Reduce heat to medium, and add the wine and lemon juice, scraping any brown bits from the bottom of the pan. Cook until nearly evaporated, then add the butter and stir until melted. Add the shrimp and its juices and stir until warmed through. (If the sauce breaks and looks greasy, add 1 or 2 teaspoons of water and stir until emulsified.)
- Remove from heat, add the herbs, season to taste with salt and pepper, and serve with extra lemon for squeezing over, if you like.
Recipe by Ali Slagle for NYTimes Cooking
Accounting for Taste 