This recipe is commonly called shrimp scampi, but after reading more about the origins of the recipe and how it’s been altered over the course of time, I didn’t feel comfortable calling this shrimp scampi. Scampi are tiny, lobster-like crustaceans also known as langoustines. With a lack of scampi in the United States, immigrant Italian cooks replaced the pale pink crustacean with shrimp, but kept both names, possibly starting the confusion. Soon after the classic Italian scampi dish was Americanized, new interpretations began. Some began adding tomatoes, others topped the dish with breadcrumbs, and some recipes added crushed red pepper flakes and omitted the white wine. Even the preparation changed from sautéing in a pan to broiling in a casserole dish. The closest “original” recipe I could find for scampi is to sauté in white wine, olive oil, onions, and garlic. I grew up eating shrimp scampi as an appetizer, bubbling hot garlicky shrimp spooned onto bread with an extra helping of butter sauce. This recipe can be prepared as an appetizer or portioned on top of pasta for dinner. Adding the panko topping is optional, but I highly encourage the crispy texture if serving with pasta. 

Garlic Butter Shrimp
Serves 2

Ingredients
1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 stick unsalted butter, melted
6 cloves of garlic, minced
1 small shallot, chopped
1 lemon, zest and juice
⅓ cup dry white wine
Salt and ground black pepper, to taste
1 tablespoon dried parsley
1 cup panko 

Directions 

1. Move the oven rack to the second level from the top and set the oven to broil. 
2. In a small 12- or 16- ounce casserole dish, arrange shrimp in a single layer. Set aside. 
3. In a small bowl, whisk together the remaining ingredients except panko. 
4. Pour the butter mixture over the shrimp and top with panko, evenly covering the shrimp. 
5. Broil shrimp for about 8 minutes or until the shrimp are pink and tails have curled, and sauce is bubbling. 
6. Carefully remove from the oven and serve immediately, either with crunchy bread or over pasta.

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