Shrimp In White Wine Sauce
Published Mar 04, 2024
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Tasty shrimp in a garlicky white wine sauce makes the perfect appetizer served alongside some crusty bread for mopping the sauce! This Shrimp In White Wine Sauce is irresistibly good! Perfect for making when you have company or when you just want something insanely delicious!
I don’t know about you, but something about shrimp feels so refined and sophisticated! Despite being easy to prepare, shrimp can be the perfect food to serve when you have guests over because of its impressive presentation.
This recipe takes it a step further by serving the shrimp in a savory white wine sauce, which makes it even more delicious! Every time I make this recipe, my guests rave about its incredible taste. With hints of zesty lemon, spicy red pepper flakes, and garlic, this appetizer boasts a depth of flavor that will leave you craving more.
If you’re a fan of shrimp, be sure to check out some of my other recipes containing shrimp, such as Pan Seared Shrimp, Shrimp Pasta, or Shrimp and Chicken Fried Rice. But in the meantime, let’s get back to discussing today’s recipe and some tips on how you can perfect it!
Table of Contents
- Why Make Shrimp In White Wine Sauce?
- Ingredients Needed
- How To Make Shrimp In White Wine Sauce
- Step 1: Sautee garlic and shallots in butter and oil.
- Step 2. Add the white wine and red pepper flakes.
- Step 3: Add the shrimp, salt and pepper.
- Step 4: Cook until the shrimp turn pink.
- Substitutions and Variations
- Expert Tips For Shrimp In White Wine Sauce
- Recipe Frequently Asked Questions
- Serving
- More Impressive Dinner Recipes
- Shrimp In White Wine Sauce Recipe
Why Make Shrimp In White Wine Sauce?
Please add this to your list of favorite dishes to make for several reasons!
- It is easy, even for beginner cooks. My shrimp in white wine sauce recipe has simple steps that anyone can follow! It doesn’t require extensive cooking skills to make it. You can also have it ready within 15 minutes!
- You can serve it as an appetizer or transform it into a main course. Make the recipe as it is and serve it as a delicious appetizer with bread for dipping. Alternatively, you can enhance the recipe by adding other ingredients, such as pasta or rice and vegetables, to make it a complete main course.
- It has a show-stopping presentation. This dish is restaurant quality! It has incredible savory flavors and an elegant appearance. You can have a five-star experience in the comfort of your own home.
Get wild-caught shrimp if you can as they have better flavor than farmed shrimp.
Ingredients Needed
Although this dish contains an array of ingredients, these specific components are crucial to the recipe and its flavor!
- Medium Shrimp: You can use fresh or frozen shrimp that are peeled and deveined. If yours are frozen, make sure to properly thaw them beforehand. Here is a great guide on how to thaw frozen shrimp.
- Butter and Oil: These ingredients are essential for both flavor and browning garlic and shallots, providing the sauce’s base with a rich taste.
- White Wine: Dry white wine is the perfect foundation for a luxurious sauce. Its acidity balances the fat in the sauce. Make sure to follow the directions when adding it because if you add it at the wrong time, an emulsion won’t form, and the sauce will be broken.
- Lemon Juice: This ingredient gives the sauce a bright finish and pairs with every component! Use fresh lemon juice for optimal results.
Scroll down below to see the details about measurements and remaining ingredients.
How To Make Shrimp In White Wine Sauce
Here is how to make shrimp in white wine sauce, broken down to 4 easy steps! Be sure to check out the more detailed recipe below.
Step 1: Sautee garlic and shallots in butter and oil.
Shallots have a milder and sweeter flavor compared to onions, which makes them perfect for elevating sauces like this to gourmet standard. Make sure the shallots are finely minced so they incorporate seamlessly with the sauce.
Step 2. Add the white wine and red pepper flakes.
White wine incorporates acidity, cutting through the richness of the butter and oil and it also deglazes the pan.
Step 3: Add the shrimp, salt and pepper.
Go for medium to large shrimp as they make for a more alluring presentation. White pepper is a great substitute for the black pepper. I use both peppers interchangeably with seafood recipes.
Step 4: Cook until the shrimp turn pink.
Stir the shrimp with the seasoning to combine and let them cook until the shrimp go from translucent to opaque. When shrimp turn pink, that’s the indication that they’re done. Don’t overcook the shrimp as they’ll turn rubbery.
Then it’s time for finishing touches. Taste to see if it needs more salt, add in some fresh lemon juice and garnish with minced parsley, chives or some lemon zest.
Substitutions and Variations
- Clams: Why not have a medley of seafood by making shrimp and clams in white wine sauce? The clams go very well with the other ingredients in the recipe! While canned clams are an option, fresh clams are definitely best! Before using, make sure to clean them properly. As they take longer to cook than shrimp, add them earlier when the wine first comes to a simmer. Cover and steam them for a few minutes, then proceed with the recipe as usual. By the time the shrimp is ready, the clams should have opened up.
- Pasta: You can easily turn this into a heartier meal by making pasta and shrimp in white wine sauce! Angel hair and linguine are top-tier choices, but don’t worry about taking a trip to the store; you can use any pasta shape you have. Cook the pasta separately and serve the shrimp over it. Alternatively, add the cooked pasta to the pan and mix everything together before serving.
- Spinach: This ingredient is not only nutritious, but it’s also a phenomenal pairing with the shrimp. For best results, use fresh spinach and add it at the same time as the shrimp, giving it time to wilt.
- Chicken Broth: You can easily swap chicken broth for white wine if you don’t want to cook with alcohol! Use an equal amount. Don’t worry about how it will turn out. The dish will still be equally yummy and savory!
Expert Tips For Shrimp In White Wine Sauce
- It’s important not to overcook shrimp as they can become tough and rubbery. Examine their appearance to determine when they are done, as they cook very quickly. They should be opaque, pink to orange, slightly firm yet tender, and form a C-shape.
- This recipe calls for medium shrimp. If all you have is large shrimp, that’s perfectly okay! But just keep in mind they will take slightly longer to cook.
- No matter which size shrimp you use, it is best to devein and peel them before you begin the recipe so you don’t have to scramble. If you start the sauce before doing so, you’ll run out of time. You can always purchase them pre-peeled and deveined to make it easier on yourself!
- Choose your wine carefully! If you pick a white wine that is too sweet, it will throw off the flavor profile of the entire dish. That is why I recommend dry wine.
Recipe Frequently Asked Questions
There are plenty of white wines that pair with shrimp. For example, I suggest using Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, or Viognier. Their crisp qualities and acidic levels brighten the dish and enhance the recipe’s shrimp and fresh lemon juice.
However, you are free to use any dry white wine you prefer. And you don’t need to purchase a ridiculously expensive wine to cook with! There are plenty of moderately priced options with good qualities and flavor depth.
When you prepare this recipe, the shrimp gets infused with a remarkable amount of flavor because of the alcohol. They absorb some of the sauce with the wine when they cook, which is why I prefer to cook them in the sauce rather than separately.
There isn’t a right or wrong option! You can cook shrimp in either. This specific recipe has a bit of both! Of course, butter typically has a deeper flavor than oil, which is why many people prefer it.
Serving
Serve this Shrimp In White Wine Sauce with any crusty bread such as baguette, ciabatta, or French bread. To elevate the presentation of this dish, serve it with homemade bread for mopping the sauce. The flavor of homemade bread is unmatched! Here are some of my favorite homemade bread recipes:
More Impressive Dinner Recipes
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Shrimp In White Wine Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 pound medium shrimp
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 medium shallot, minced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ⅓ cup white wine
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper sub with white pepper
- 1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 2 Tablespoons minced parsley for garnish
Serving
- Crusty bread like ciabatta or baguette
Instructions
- Rinse the shrimp and pat dry with paper towels.
- Heat a skillet on medium-high heat then add the olive oil and butter. Once the butter melts, add the minced shallots and garlic. Stir well and let it cook for about a minute or two while stirring occasionally until fragrant and golden brown.
- Add the white wine and red pepper flakes. Bring to a simmer for 2 to 3 minutes.
- Add the shrimp, salt and pepper. Stir well to combine and bring to a simmer for about 5 minutes until the shrimp turn pink.
- Add in the lemon juice, then taste and adjust the seasoning as needed. I add in a little pinch of salt at this stage.
- Garnish with minced parsley and serve warm with crusty bread.
