Lemon Shrimp Pasta with Kale

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Last Updated on January 13, 2021 by Chenée Lewis

I love an easy weeknight dinner. This lemon shrimp & pasta recipe is just that — quick, easy, and bursting with flavor! But what’s really special about this recipe for shrimp and pasta is that it’s full of nutrient-rich kale and it’s gluten-free! It also features a larger portion of kale and a smaller portion of pasta, so it’s lighter in carbs and a great source of veggies!

This easy recipe for shrimp & pasta can come together in just 30 minutes. With a little multitasking, you’ll have it on the table in no time. And it’s made with fresh, delicious ingredients that are good all year round! This recipe is adapted from a Blue Apron recipe that I made years ago, and over time I’ve made my own tweaks to make it perfect — starting with using gluten free pasta!

Gluten-Free Chickpea Linguine

The key to making this lemon shrimp pasta recipe gluten free is using chickpea pasta! I love that using chickpea pasta makes this shrimp & pasta dish more rich in protein, lower in carbs My favorite is Banza, but you can use whatever chickpea or otherwise gluten-free pasta you like! You can also use conventional wheat pasta and this recipe would be just as delicious! It’s totally up to you!

Ingredients

• chickpea linguine – I find that chickpea linguine or spaghetti work best with this recipe, but you can use any gluten-free pasta you like! Or any pasta at all, for that matter. Just prepare it according to package directions, reserving some of the pasta water for later.
• shrimp – I like to use large or extra-large raw shrimp that is peeled and deveined, with the tails removed. But any raw shrimp should be fine for this shrimp & pasta recipe — as long as you adjust the cooking time according to the size of the shrimp.
• kale – I use about a bunch and a half of kale, but the more, the merrier, so if you really like kale or want to make this recipe for shrimp pasta even healthier, add in a little more! Just wash it an chop it and it’s ready to go! Actually, another great shortcut to make this recipe even easier: I buy the bagged, chopped kale from the fresh produce section at the market, and just grab a few handfuls. Cuts way down on prep time!
• white wine – adds a little flavor to the kale and to the dish in general!
• green onions – this is one of my favorite ingredients in this shrimp & pasta recipe! Green onions are a delicious aromatic flavor to add in, and they make this recipe a little unique! We’ll use both parts of the green onion to flavor both the kale and the final product.
• garlic – I like to use about 6 cloves of garlic in this recipe because to me, garlicky shrimp pasta is the best! You can feel free to cut it down to 3 or 4 cloves if you’re not a huge garlic fan like me.
• lemon – brightens up the dish, starting with the kale and finishing the pasta with a few tangy citrus squeezes!
• olive oil and butter – helps with sautéing the kale and the shrimp, and provides a silky texture to the sauce.
• red pepper flakes – these are optional, but I like the added heat.
• salt & pepper – to taste. I like to add light salt and pepper during each step to make sure the dish is well-seasoned. But
• Parmigiano-Reggiano – my favorite cheese! And the best for pastas. You should be able to find Parmigiano-Reggiano in the specialty cheeses section of your market, but if not, you can substitute another hard aged cheese like Grana Padano, Pecorino-Romano, or Asiago.

Equipment

This shrimp & pasta recipe is pretty simple — you’ll need a large sauté pan for most of the recipe, as well as a pot and colander for your pasta. I like to toss the pasta and sauce together using spaghetti tongs, which you can also use to serve your pasta. I also like to grate my cheese with a microplane grater so I can grate directly into the pan!

Step by Step

1. First, you’ll want to sauté your garlic and green onions, and then add your kale, some red pepper flakes, and a little white wine to cook it down. Once your kale is tender, transfer it to a bowl
2. Meanwhile, you can boil the water for your pasta! If you’re using Banza linguine, cook the pasta in boiling, well-salted water for 8 minutes. I like to cook the pasta a little less than the package directions since we’ll be cooking it a bit more in the sauce. Then remove 1/2 cup of your pasta water and drain the rest. This pasta water will help to bring the sauce together later.
3. Finally, our shrimp! Just season your shrimp and then cook it in a little olive oil, and then add red pepper flakes, garlic, lemon juice, and a little more wine, because wine not?!
4. Stir in your kale and cheese and cook the sauce down a bit, then add your cooked pasta! If you like, add a little of the pasta water to bring the sauce together, but otherwise once the pasta is well coated with the sauce, you’re ready drizzle it with some olive oil and serve!
5. I like to garnish with chopped green onions, grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, cracked pepper, a drizzle of olive oil, and a lemon wedge on the side. Let me know your favorite ways to garnish this shrimp & pasta dish in the comments!

Related Recipes

If you like this gluten-free lemon shrimp pasta recipe, you’ll love my Spicy Peanut Noodle Salad — it’s also gluten-free, and also full of amazing flavors! And because it’s a cold noodle salad, it comes together in just a few minutes!

Or for a delicious gluten-free dessert to go with this lemon garlic shrimp pasta dish, you should definitely try my Gluten-Free Passionfruit Tart with Almond Crust! It’s so delicious, with bright passionfruit and creamy vanilla flavors, all in a buttery almond crust. Such an elegant dessert!

Lemon Shrimp Pasta with Kale

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A gluten-free lemony, garlicky shrimp & pasta recipe — this lemon shrimp pasta is made with gluten-free pasta, white wine, chili flakes, and green onions for fantastic flavor!

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Course: Main Course

Cuisine :American, Italian

Servings: 4 servings

Recipe Source: Chenée Lewis

Equipment you may need

large sauté pan

stock pot

spaghetti tongs

measuring cups and spoons

wooden spatula

colander

mixing bowls

microplane grater/zester

garlic press

Ingredients

1x2x3x

• 5 tbsp extra virgin olive oil - divided
• 5 green onions - white and green parts, sliced; divided
• 6 cloves garlic - chopped or pressed through a garlic press; divided
• 12 oz curly kale - well washed, chopped, with stems removed
• ⅓ cup white wine - plus more if you like
• 8 oz Banza Linguine Made from Chickpeas - or gluten-free pasta of your choice
• 1 lb. raw shrimp - peeled, de-veined, tails removed
• 3 tbsp fresh squeezed lemon juice
• 1 tbsp red pepper flakes - or to taste; divided
• 3 tbsp unsalted butter
• ½ cup Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese - grated; plus more to taste

Garnishes

• green onions
• fresh cracked black pepper
• Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
• extra virgin olive oil
• lemon wedges

Instructions

• Heat 2 tbsp olive oil a large saute pan over medium-high heat. Add 3 cloves of chopped garlic and whites of chopped green onions and sprinkle with salt. Cook for 1 minute.
• Add kale, white wine, and 2 teaspoons of red pepper flakes and stir. Cook until kale is tender and wine has mostly reduced. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.
• Meanwhile, bring 3 quarts of generously-salted water to a boil in a stock pot. Add pasta and boil for 8 minutes (or one minute less than package directions). Remove 1/2 cup of pasta water to a heatproof cup and drain.
• Pat shrimp dry and season with salt and pepper.
• In the same sauté pan, heat another 3 tbsp olive oil and add shrimp in a single layer, red pepper flakes, and lemon juice. Cook one minute.
• Flip shrimp and add remaining red pepper flakes (or as much as you prefer), garlic, and lemon juice, and anothe splash of white wine (optional). Cook another minute and then add in your kale and grated Parmigiano-Reggiano.
• Stir and cook another minute, then add in your cooked pasta. If it helps to bring the sauce together, stir in a bit of the reserved pasta water.
• Serve immediately, garnished with additional green onions, cheese, olive oil, and cracked pepper, with lemon wedges on the side.

Video

Notes

This recipe was inspired by the Blue Apron recipe Spicy Shrimp & Bucatini Pasta.

Chickpea pasta: I prefer Banza pasta because it tastes great and works in place of regular pasta in any pasta dish! But feel free to use any gluten-free or regular pasta that you like! 

Customize: You can customize this gluten-free lemon shrimp pasta recipe to your preferences — feel free to add extra red pepper flakes for some more spice, or more lemon, or (if you’re like me) more cheese! It’s totally up to you and your taste!

Nutrition Disclaimer

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