Description
This garlic seafood pasta is a quick, restaurant-worthy dish perfect for Valentine’s Day or any special occasion. Loaded with fresh garlic, mixed seafood, and a bright lemony wine sauce, it’s easy to make in under 30 minutes and guaranteed to impress.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz linguine (or spaghetti, fettuccine, or angel hair)
- 12 oz mixed seafood (shrimp and scallops recommended; mussels or calamari optional)
- 6 large cloves garlic, minced
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 cup dry white wine (Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio; substitute with seafood or vegetable broth plus a squeeze of lemon)
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 lemon, zest and juice
- Salt & black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Fill a large pot with water, add salt, and bring to a boil. Cook pasta until al dente, about 9-10 minutes. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water, then drain.
- While pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and red pepper flakes, sauté until fragrant but not browned (1-2 minutes).
- Add mixed seafood to the skillet, season with salt and pepper, and sauté until shrimp are pink and scallops are opaque (2-3 minutes per side). Cook in batches if needed.
- Pour in white wine and simmer, scraping the pan to deglaze, for 2 minutes until slightly reduced.
- Add butter and half the parsley. Stir until butter melts. Squeeze in half the lemon juice and add zest. Taste and adjust seasoning.
- Add drained pasta to the skillet. Toss everything together, adding reserved pasta water a splash at a time until the sauce coats the noodles.
- Sprinkle with remaining parsley and more lemon juice if desired. Serve immediately.
Notes
Use fresh garlic and real lemon for best flavor. Don’t overcook seafood—remove from heat as soon as shrimp are pink and scallops are opaque. Reserve pasta water to help bind the sauce. Gluten-free pasta and dairy-free adaptations work well. Serve straight from the pan for a cozy vibe.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/2 of recipe (about
- Calories: 410
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 650
- Fat: 10
- Saturated Fat: 3
- Carbohydrates: 52
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 24
Keywords: garlic seafood pasta, Valentine’s Day dinner, romantic pasta, easy seafood pasta, shrimp pasta, scallop pasta, lemon garlic pasta, date night recipe