Shrimp Pasta with A Lemon Garlic Vegan Butter Sauce

Fasting can be a spiritual journey, but it doesn't mean you have to compromise on flavor. This vegan lemon garlic butter pasta is perfect for Orthodox Christians looking for a fast-friendly, delicious meal that nourishes the body and soul.

❤️ Why You Will Love This Recipe

This lemon garlic butter pasta recipe has become a staple in my kitchen during fasting periods. Not only is it packed with simple ingredients that provide essential nutrients like fiber, vitamins, and plant-based proteins, but it's also easy to make and perfect for the whole family. The fresh garlic, lemon zest, and vegan butter create a light yet satisfying dish that's sure to please even the pickiest eaters. Plus, the recipe is so versatile that you can easily adapt it to your taste or what's available in your pantry.

🛒 Ingredients

Key Ingredients

• 9 ounces pasta - you can also use ½ pound or 8 ounces (follow package instructions)
• 6 tablespoon salted butter, avocado oil, or vegan butter
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
• ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1 tablespoon lemon zest (from 1 lemon)
• 2 cups roughly chopped baby spinach
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley or basil
• 1 pound peeled shrimp, thawed and drained if frozen
• 2 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
• ½ teaspoon sea salt (adjust to taste)
• 2 cups reserved pasta cooking water

Variations

For those observing a stricter fast, replace shrimp with marinated tofu or tempeh to maintain the protein content. If you prefer a heartier dish, add more vegetables like cherry tomatoes or mushrooms. You can also use different pasta shapes like angel hair pasta or spaghetti for a fun twist on this classic Italian pasta dish.

👩‍🍳 Instructions

Step by Step Instructions

Prepare Ingredients: Mince the garlic, zest the lemon, chop the spinach and parsley, and juice the lemon.

Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water (1-2 tablespoons salt) to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente, typically 8-10 minutes.

Make the Sauce:

• Melt Butter: While the pasta cooks, melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat.
• Add Garlic: Once melted, add the minced garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30-60 seconds. Avoid browning the garlic to prevent bitterness.
• Combine Ingredients: Increase the heat to medium and add the red pepper flakes, Italian seasoning, lemon zest, and spinach. Cook until the spinach begins to wilt, about 1 minute.

Cook Shrimp: If the pasta is nearly done, add the shrimp to the skillet with the spinach mixture. If needed, take the skillet off the heat to wait for the pasta.

Mix Together: Once the pasta is al dente, reserve 2 cups of the starchy pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta. Add the pasta to the skillet with the shrimp and spinach mixture. Add the fresh parsley, lemon juice, sea salt, and black pepper. Toss everything together, adding just enough reserved pasta water to create a light lemon garlic butter sauce. Continue cooking until the shrimp are fully cooked.

Serve: Serve the pasta immediately, optionally topped with grated parmesan cheese for extra flavor.

🥡 Storage Instructions

🍽️ Side Dishes

This vegan lemon garlic butter shrimp pasta is not just a simple pasta recipe; it's a delicious, nutritious, and easy way to stay true to your fasting commitments while enjoying a flavorful meal. Perfect for busy weeknights or any special occasion!

📝 Recipe Card

Shrimp Pasta with A Lemon Garlic Vegan Butter Sauce

This lemon garlic butter pasta recipe has become a staple in my kitchen during fasting periods. Not only is it packed with simple ingredients that provide essential nutrients like fiber, vitamins, and plant-based proteins, but it's also easy to make and perfect for the whole family. The fresh garlic, lemon zest, and vegan butter create a light yet satisfying dish that's sure to please even the pickiest eaters. Plus, the recipe is so versatile that you can easily adapt it to your taste or what's available in your pantry.

Print Pin Rate

Course: Dinner, Lunch, Main, Main Course

Cuisine: American, International, Italian

Keyword: lemon garlic butter pasta

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes

Servings: 4 People

Calories: 494kcal

Ingredients

• 9 ounces pasta fast friendly vegan pasta
• 6 tablespoon butter salted, avocado oil, or vegan butter
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
• ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1 tablespoon lemon zest from 1 lemon
• 2 cups baby spinach roughly chopped
• 1 tablespoon parsley or basil chopped and fresh
• 1 pound shrimp peeled, thawed and drained if frozen
• 2 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
• ½ teaspoon sea salt adjust to taste
• ½ teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

Prepare Ingredients:

• Mince the garlic, zest the lemon, chop the spinach and parsley, and juice the lemon.

Cook Pasta:

• Bring a large pot of salted water (1-2 tablespoons salt) to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente, typically 8-10 minutes.

Make the Sauce:

• Melt Butter
• While the pasta cooks, melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat.
• Add Garlic
• Once melted, add the minced garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30-60 seconds. Avoid browning the garlic to prevent bitterness.

Combine Ingredients:

• Increase the heat to medium and add the red pepper flakes, Italian seasoning, lemon zest, and spinach. Cook until the spinach begins to wilt, about 1 minute.

Cook Shrimp:

• If the pasta is nearly done, add the shrimp to the skillet with the spinach mixture. If needed, take the skillet off the heat to wait for the pasta.

Mix Together:

• Once the pasta is al dente, reserve 2 cups of the starchy pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta. Add the pasta to the skillet with the shrimp and spinach mixture. Add the fresh parsley, lemon juice, sea salt, and black pepper. Toss everything together, adding just enough reserved pasta water to create a light lemon garlic butter sauce. Continue cooking until the shrimp are fully cooked.

Serve:

• Serve the pasta immediately, optionally topped with grated parmesan cheese for extra flavor.

Video

Notes

Cooking Tips & Serving Suggestions:

• Use Fresh Ingredients: Using fresh garlic, lemon juice, and herbs will elevate the flavors of this simple pasta dish.
• Add Starchy Pasta Water: The starchy water helps to create a silky, creamy sauce that clings to the pasta.
• Adjust to Taste: Adjust the seasoning and lemon juice to your taste.

Nutrition

Calories: 494kcal | Carbohydrates: 50g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 228mg | Sodium: 582mg | Potassium: 563mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 2097IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 119mg | Iron: 2mg

Frequently Asked Questions 🍋