Margarita Shrimp Scampi

Summer is about to come to a close and while the Autumn is my favorite time of year, saying goodbye to Margarita Season is always difficult. It’s always around this time that I start incorporating my favorite summertime adult beverage into my cooking. Call it a family-friendly homage, if you will. This dish is a playful riff on traditional shrimp scampi but the tequila lime seasoning and pop from sweet peppadew peppers give it a zing your family won’t expect. All three of my girls gobbled this up and asked for seconds!

Feel free to swap the shrimp for chicken if you aren’t a fan of seafood. Similarly, the pickled peppadew peppers add a great twist, but aren’t necessary. If you prefer heat, add jarred jalapenos in place of the peppers.

Margarita Shrimp Scampi

Queen Bee Meg

This tequila and lime shrimp is just like your favorite summer adult beverage on a plate. Similar to shrimp scampi but with a unique twist, even picky eaters can enjoy this buttery, citrus pasta dish.

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Prep Time 10 mins

Cook Time 20 mins

Marinating Time 30 mins

Total Time 1 hr

Course Main Course

Cuisine Fusion, Southwestern

Servings 4

Ingredients

  

Shrimp Marinade

• 1 lb raw, jumbo shrimp (13-20 count size), peeled and deveined
• 1 Tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp Tajin seasoning (see note)
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp salt
• ½ tsp black pepper
• 1 lime, juiced and zested
• 1 Tbsp tequila
• ¼ cup olive oil

Pasta Dressing

• 8 oz spaghetti pasta (1/2 pound)
• ½ cup tequila
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 lime, juiced and zested
• ⅓ cup heavy cream
• 4 Tbsp butter, divided in half
• salt and pepper to taste
• ¼ cup peppadew peppers or sweet cherry peppers, diced (optional)
• fresh parsley or diced scallion greens for garnishment

Instructions

 

• In a large Ziploc bag, add all shrimp marinade ingredients, including shrimp. Seal tightly and gently massage the bag to insure the shrimp is fully coated. Refrigerate in marinade for 30 minutes.
• Boil a pot of salted water on the stove. Cook pasta according to directions. Drain and set aside.
• While pasta is cooking, begin cooking the shrimp and pasta sauce. In a large pan over medium high heat, heat a drizzle of olive oil. Once hot, remove shrimp from marinade and add to pan. (Discard marinade.) Cook shrimp without moving for 2 minutes to get a slight crust. Flip and repeat on the opposite side until shrimp are fully cooked (about 4-6 minutes total, depending on size of shrimp). Set aside and cover to keep warm.
• Carefully wipe pan clean. (It will be hot!)
• Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in pan. Add minced garlic and cook 30 seconds until fragrant.
• Add tequila and half of lime juice and zest. Whisk together and then bring to a boil. Reduce heat slightly to keep mixture simmering and allow to reduce by half (about 5 minutes.) Carefully taste periodically, and add salt, pepper, and additional lime juice if needed.
• Reduce heat to medium. Add heavy cream and remaining butter. Whisk to combine. Heat for 1 minute more. Add pasta to pan and toss to thoroughly combine in sauce. Remove from heat.
• Spoon sauced pasta into bowls. Top with shrimp, diced peppadew peppers, parsley or diced scallion greens, and optional remaining lime zest.
• Serve immediately.

Notes

Tajin is a popular chili-lime seasoning from Mexico, and has gained popularity recently in the United States. It can often be found in the International Aisle where the rest of the Mexican condiments are located. However, if you can’t find Tajin seasoning, no worries! A simple substitute that works well with this recipe is to add 1 teaspoon of chili powder with 1 tablespoon of lime juice and 1/4 teaspoon of salt. (Make sure the 1 tablespoon of lime juice is in addition to the juiced and zested lime. Similarly, the 1/4 teaspoon of salt is in addition to the 1 teaspoon the original recipe calls for)

 

Peppadew peppers are one of my new favorite ingredients to cook with. Unlike their spicy cousins, most peppadews are sweet with a unique, slightly sour finish, that adds a burst of flavor to seafood and chicken dishes. Peppadews can typically be found in the pickled veggie section, and go by a few different names depending upon the brand: cherry peppers, sweet peppers, sweet piquante, or Juanita peppers.

Keyword Pasta, Seafood, Shrimp