Garlicky Shrimp Pasta


Marinate the shrimp while you prepare the remaining ingredients.

INGREDIENTS
5medium garlic cloves, minced or pressed through garlic press (about 5 teaspoons), plus 4 medium cloves, smashed
1pound large shrimp (21-25), peeled, deveined, each shrimp cut into 3 pieces
3tablespoons olive oil
  Table salt
1/4-1/2teaspoon red pepper flakes
1pound pasta in short, tubular shapes, such as fusilli, campanelle, or mezze rigatoni
2teaspoons unbleached all-purpose flour
1/2cup dry vermouth or white wine
3/4cup clam juice
1/2cup chopped fresh parsley
3tablespoons unsalted butter
1teaspoon lemon juice plus 1 lemon, cut into wedges
  Ground black pepper
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Toss 2 teaspoons minced garlic, shrimp, 1 tablespoon oil, and 1/4 teaspoon salt in medium bowl. Let shrimp marinate at room temperature 20 minutes.

2. Heat 4 smashed garlic cloves and remaining 2 tablespoons oil in 12-inch skillet over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until garlic is light golden brown, 4 to 7 minutes. Remove skillet from heat and use slotted spoon to remove garlic from skillet; discard garlic. Set skillet aside.

3. Bring 4 quarts water to boil in large Dutch oven over high heat. Add 1 tablespoon salt and pasta. Cook until just al dente, then drain pasta, reserving 1/4 cup cooking water, and transfer pasta back to Dutch oven.

4. While pasta cooks, return skillet with oil to medium heat; add shrimp with marinade to skillet in single layer. Cook shrimp, undisturbed, until oil starts to bubble gently, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir shrimp and continue to cook until almost cooked through, about 1 minute longer. Using slotted spoon, transfer shrimp to medium bowl. Add remaining 3 teaspoons minced garlic and pepper flakes to skillet and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add flour and cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute; stir in vermouth and cook for 1 minute. Add clam juice and parsley; cook until mixture starts to thicken, 1 to 2 minutes. Off heat, whisk in butter and lemon juice. Add shrimp and sauce to pasta, adding reserved cooking water if sauce is too thick. Season with black pepper. Serve, passing lemon wedges separately.

TECHNIQUE
ALL CLAMMED UP
We sampled three brands of bottled clam juice and found the fresh, bright taste of Bar Harbor boosted our pasta’s seafood flavor best, keeping the shrimp from getting stranded in a sea of garlic.