Delicious Bobby Flay Shrimp & Roasted Garlic Penne
This Bobby Flay–style Shrimp And Roasted Garlic Penne is a celebration of robust flavors and comforting textures. With succulent shrimp and fragrant roasted garlic, it’s a dish that’s both sophisticated and straightforward to make.
- Author: Bluebella
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 30 mins
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian
- 2 whole heads of garlic
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (for roasting garlic)
- Salt (to taste)
- Black pepper (to taste)
- 1 pound large shrimp (16/20 count, peeled and deveined)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (for cooking shrimp)
- 1 pound penne pasta
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (for sauce)
- 1 shallot (thinly sliced)
- 2 cloves fresh garlic (thinly sliced)
- Red pepper flakes (to taste)
- 1 cup non-alcoholic white cooking wine or chicken broth
- 1/2 cup reserved roasted garlic cloves (mashed)
- 1/2 cup reserved pasta water
- Juice and zest of 1 lemon
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- Fresh flat-leaf parsley (finely chopped)
- Freshly grated Parmesan or Pecorino Romano cheese (for serving)
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Slice off the very top of each garlic head, exposing the cloves. Drizzle with a tablespoon of olive oil, season with a pinch of salt and black pepper.
- Wrap each head loosely in aluminum foil. Roast for 35-45 minutes, or until the cloves are very soft and golden brown. Let cool slightly, then squeeze the softened garlic cloves out of their skins into a small bowl. Set aside.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil.
- Add the penne and cook according to package directions until al dente – firm to the bite.
- Before draining, reserve about 1 to 1.5 cups of the starchy pasta water. Drain the penne and set aside.
- While the pasta cooks, pat your shrimp thoroughly dry with paper towels. Season generously with salt, black pepper, and a pinch of red pepper flakes.
- Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat until shimmering.
- Add the seasoned shrimp in a single layer (cook in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding). Cook for 1-2 minutes per side, until pink and just opaque. Remove the shrimp from the pan and set aside on a plate; they will finish cooking when added back to the sauce.
- Reduce the heat to medium. Add another tablespoon of olive oil to the same skillet if needed.
- Add the sliced shallots and fresh garlic. Sauté for 2-3 minutes until softened and fragrant, being careful not to burn the garlic. Add another pinch of red pepper flakes if you like extra heat.
- Pour in the non-alcoholic white cooking wine or chicken broth to deglaze the pan, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom. Let it simmer for 1-2 minutes until slightly reduced.
- Add the reserved roasted garlic cloves to the pan, mashing them gently with a fork or the back of a spoon to create a paste within the sauce.
- Stir in about 1/2 cup of the reserved pasta water, the fresh lemon juice, and lemon zest. Bring to a gentle simmer.
- Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the unsalted butter until it melts and the sauce becomes slightly emulsified and glossy.
- Return the cooked penne and the cooked shrimp to the skillet with the sauce.
- Toss everything together gently, ensuring the pasta and shrimp are thoroughly coated. If the sauce seems too thick, add a splash more reserved pasta water until it reaches your desired consistency.
- Stir in most of the fresh chopped parsley.
- Taste and adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, and more lemon juice if desired.
- Divide the Bobby Flay–style Shrimp And Roasted Garlic Penne among plates.
- Garnish with the remaining fresh parsley and a generous sprinkle of freshly grated Parmesan cheese. A final drizzle of good olive oil is a lovely touch. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 600
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 70 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 200 mg
Keywords: Don't overcook the shrimp, roast garlic ahead of time, and remember to reserve pasta water for a silky sauce. Quality ingredients matter, and feel free to amp up the heat with extra red pepper flakes.