Shrimp Scampi Appetizer with Citrus and Scallions Recipe
A zesty and buttery Shrimp Scampi Appetizer that features large raw shrimp cooked in a savory garlic, citrus, and white wine sauce, served with scallions for a fresh finish. Perfect for entertaining, this quick and flavorful dish combines the bright flavors of lemon and lime with rich butter and garlic.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings as appetizer 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients
Scale
Citrus and Wine Mixture
- 1 lemon (zested and juiced to yield 2 tablespoons lemon juice)
- 2 limes (zested and juiced to yield 2 tablespoons lime juice)
- 2 tablespoons light white wine
Shrimp and Sauce
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 tablespoons (½ stick) butter, divided
- 4 cloves garlic, smashed
- 1¼ pounds large raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
- ¾ teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
- 8 scallions, white and light green parts only, thinly sliced
Instructions
- Prepare citrus mixture: Zest the lemon and limes, then juice the fruit to obtain 2 tablespoons each of lemon and lime juice. Combine the zest, lemon juice, lime juice, and white wine in a small bowl and set aside.
- Heat fat base: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, warm the olive oil and 2 tablespoons of the butter until melted and shimmering.
- Sauté garlic: Add the smashed garlic cloves to the skillet and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
- Cook shrimp: Add the peeled and deveined shrimp along with ¾ teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the shrimp turn opaque throughout and are just cooked, about 3 minutes.
- Add scallions and citrus-wine: Stir in the sliced scallions and pour in the citrus and wine mixture. Cook, stirring constantly, until the liquid barely comes to a boil, allowing the flavors to meld.
- Finish with butter: Remove the skillet from heat and stir in the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter until melted and incorporated. Adjust salt to taste.
- Serve: Transfer the shrimp scampi mixture to a serving dish and provide toothpicks for easy appetizer serving. Enjoy warm.
Notes
- Use fresh lemons and limes for the best citrus flavor.
- Be careful not to overcook the shrimp, they should be just opaque and tender.
- Serving with toothpicks makes this an ideal finger food appetizer.
- Light white wine is preferred to keep the sauce bright and not overpowering.
- Butter is added in two stages to create a silky sauce and finish with richness.
Keywords: shrimp scampi, appetizer, garlic shrimp, citrus shrimp, quick shrimp recipe, seafood appetizer
