Many easy garlic tomato shrimp scampi recipes call for wine, but do you really need to add it? Is there a wine substitute you can add to this seafood pasta dinner recipe instead? The following recipe proves you don’t need to add wine for a delicious shrimp and tomato dish served with pappardelle pasta.
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Perhaps you want to make shrimp scampi without wine because the kids are having some too. Or maybe you really crave easy garlic tomato shrimp scampi but just realized you’re out of wine! Either way, I’m sure you’ll be impressed with the wonderful flavours easy shrimp scampi recipe offers.
Shrimp Scampi Without Wine Ingredients
This easy shrimp scampi pasta without wine is delicious served with pappardelle pasta. You can use tagliatelle instead if you want, since this is a similar egg ribbon pasta. It’s just a little narrower. Fettuccine or angel hair pasta are other alternatives although they are even narrower. Really you can pick whatever is your favourite type of pasta.
You will also need jumbo shrimp. Thawed frozen shrimp is fine to use and I recommend using nice big ones. They’re just juicier and more flavourful than the little ones (which are good for something like shrimp ceviche). You can either peel them after cooking or use peeled ones to start with. You don’t want shrimp shells in your pasta dish! You can also use fresh shrimp. For best results use raw shrimp – but pre-cooked shrimp works as well.
The veggies in this shrimp scampi recipe are shallot, celery and carrot. Plenty of wonderful flavour comes from the addition of garlic, sundried tomato paste, fennel, cumin, paprika, basil, lemon zest and lemon juice and zest. You will also need oil, butter, salt, black pepper, red pepper flakes, grape tomatoes, vegetable broth (or chicken stock), and parmesan cheese. This combines to create a delicious creamy scampi sauce.
How to Make Shrimp Scampi
You will love the simplicity of this easy garlic tomato shrimp scampi. Cook the pasta al dente per package directions first of all and then drain and rinse.
Puree the vegetables and garlic with some tomato paste and olive oil in a blender or food processor.
Toss the shrimp with salt, pepper, cumin, and fennel, plus some more olive oil in a bowl. Mix the tomatoes with the basil, lemon, paprika, and broth in another bowl.
Melt the butter in a pan and add the vegetable puree mixture you made before. Sauté for a couple of minutes then add the tomato mixture and cook for a few minutes. You are almost ready to eat this easy shrimp scampi recipe without wine!
Push the mixture to the outside of the pan and add the shrimp in the middle. Cook shrimp for a few minutes. When the shrimp has turned pink, you can stir everything together, take the pan off the heat, and serve the shrimp scampi without wine over cooked pasta. Garnish with shredded cheese and some red pepper flakes.
Wine Substitute Options for Pasta Sauce
The best alternative, or wine substitute, is probably tomato juice if you’re making a red pasta sauce. Beef broth can also be tasty. In the case of a creamy pasta sauce with white wine, you can use white grape juice, chicken broth or just water. Something else which might sound odd but does actually work is ginger ale, since it has a similar sweet, dry taste to the wine.
Tweaks and Variations
As well as using a different type of ribbon pasta, there are other changes you could make. A bag of frozen mixed seafood works in place of the jumbo shrimp, or you could even use chicken in this recipe (cook and chop it before you start the recipe then add it later to warm it back up).
You can use different veggies too if you want. White or yellow onion are shallot alternatives, while broccoli can be used instead of the carrot or celery. You can leave out the fennel if you don’t have any, or swap the vegetable broth for seafood or chicken broth. Fresh parsley would make a great garnish instead of the basil.
This classic recipe is such an easy meal that makes a great weeknight dinner.
Shrimp Scampi Recipe FAQs
Leftover shrimp scampi will be fine for 3 or even 4 days in the refrigerator in an airtight container. Warm it up gently on the stove.
This recipe is super-tweakable so you can make adjustments to make it fit your diet. For a vegetarian version, use tofu or extra veggies in place of the shrimp. For a keto or low carb take on this meal, use a spiralizer to make zucchini noodles in place of the pasta.
You could serve Mushroom and Onion Focaccia Bread, Smoked Asparagus or Heirloom Italian Burrata Caprese Salad.
Shrimp Scampi Recipe Without Wine
Garlic Tomato Shrimp Scampi Without Wine
Ingredients
- 1 Pound pasta Pappardelle
- 2 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 ½ Pound shrimp jumbo
- 1 shallot
- 1 Stalk celery
- 1 carrot
- 6 Cloves garlic
- 2 Teaspoon sundried tomato paste
- ½ Cup butter
- 1 Teaspoon sea salt
- 1 Teaspoon black pepper coarse
- 1 Teaspoon fennel seeds
- ¼ Teaspoon cumin
- 2 Cups grape tomato medley pack, halved
- 1 Teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 Bunch basil sliced into ribbons
- 1 lemon juiced
- 1/2 Tablespoon lemon zest
- ¼ Cup vegetable broth
Instructions
- Bring 4 cups of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta Al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water.
- Preheat a frying pan over medium high heat.
- Prepare ingredients. Roughly chop shallot, celery, carrot, and garlic. Add to a food processor or blender with 1 tbsp of olive oil and tomato paste and purée for 15-20 seconds.
- Combine shrimp, salt, pepper, fennel, cumin, and remaining olive oil in a large mixing bowl. Toss to coat.
- In a separate mixing bowl, combine tomatoes, basil ribbons, lemon juice, lemon zest, paprika, and vegetable broth.
- Add butter to the hot pan with puréed shallot, celery, carrot, and garlic mixture. Sauté for 2 minutes.
- Add the tomatoes and basil to the pan. Sauté to break down the tomatoes for about 3-4 minutes.
- Create an empty space in the center of the pan and pour in the shrimp. After 3 minutes, stir to combine. Turn off the heat and let simmer for 2 minutes. Remove from heat.
- Plate the pasta and pour scampi on top. Top with cheese and a pinch of red pepper flakes.
Nutrition
The nutrition information provided are only estimates based on an online nutritional calculator. I am not a certified nutritionist. Please consult a professional nutritionist or doctor for accurate information and any dietary restrictions and concerns you may have.
Easy garlic tomato shrimp scampi served with pappardelle pasta makes a quick and simple weeknight meal. There’s no need for a wine substitute in this shrimp scampi recipe since the delicious shrimp scampi sauce is already bursting with incredible flavours. This is one of those easy delicious recipes that you will make on repeat on busy weeknights!
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Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a storyteller, food lover, dog mom and adventure seeker living on the Pacific coast. She shares her passion for food, dogs, fitness, adventures, travel and philanthropy, in hopes of encouraging followers to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places and stand for a cause. Bella lives with Type 1 Diabetes and Celiac Disease.
This looks delicious. Seriously delicious!
My kids would LOVE this. They are all about their shrimp.
Shrimp is my favorite. I could eat it every night. Definitely going to try this!
I normally do it with wine so I’ll have to try your version
This looks like a tasty recipe for a nice weeknight meal. I love a good pescetarian recipe!
I love shrimp scampi and usually never have whine on hand, this sounds so yummy!