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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.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 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)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil.
  5. Add the penne and cook according to package directions until al dente – firm to the bite.
  6. Before draining, reserve about 1 to 1.5 cups of the starchy pasta water. Drain the penne and set aside.
  7. 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.
  8. Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat until shimmering.
  9. 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.
  10. Reduce the heat to medium. Add another tablespoon of olive oil to the same skillet if needed.
  11. 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.
  12. 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.
  13. 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.
  14. Stir in about 1/2 cup of the reserved pasta water, the fresh lemon juice, and lemon zest. Bring to a gentle simmer.
  15. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the unsalted butter until it melts and the sauce becomes slightly emulsified and glossy.
  16. Return the cooked penne and the cooked shrimp to the skillet with the sauce.
  17. 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.
  18. Stir in most of the fresh chopped parsley.
  19. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, and more lemon juice if desired.
  20. Divide the Bobby Flay–style Shrimp And Roasted Garlic Penne among plates.
  21. 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

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.