Zucchini Scampi Recipe (2024)

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Cooking Notes

murphy

Better to put the garlic into a tablespoon of oil and the microwave for 30 seconds at half power. The infused oil can be used for the cooking and the garlic will loose that raw bite.

Rebecca

I toasted some bread crumbs in olive oil before I started cooking the zucchini and sprinkled it over the top at the end. Added a nice texture. Also I threw the garlic into the pan with the wine to take a little of the rawness away.

MegS

Is there a reason not to add the squash back to the pan at the end? I would think a minute in the pan would take the edge off the raw garlic and also reheat the squash.

Susie

How about grilling the zucchini slices and while that’s going on, make the sauce on the stove. When zucchini/squash is done, plate it, pour the sauce on top and sprinkle with parsley and/or other herbs.

Clayton

Classic. (For those protesting, “Scampi” is used here because of the white wine, garlic, and butter – the underpinning of scampi.)The secret to doing squash like this – in my experience – is don’t try to caramelize both sides, and don’t slice it too thin- doing either will break down the squash too much – and you’ll get a very soft result.Some might like this – but I think these need a bit of snap to them.Go with the full half inch thickness and a very hot pan.

elena

I liked this. The zucchini was nutty in that lovely way zucchini can get, and crisp-ish. I used the microplane to grate the garlic over the zucchini slices, it had a nice bite that seemed right, like on pizza. Didn't add the squash back to the pan because the sauce would have pulled out some crispness. Now. Why isn't this just pan-fried zucchini? Seems gimmicky to compare it to scampi. Nah.

LS

If you’re going to add this to pasta, as I did. Double the sauce. Delicious!

CL

I regularly sub apple juice for wine in recipes. I use 1/2 the amt of wine the recipe indicates. A vegetarian X20 yrs, I cannot call zucchini in lemon-garlic-butter “Scampi”, but I am eager to try any recipe that takes the bland and makes it flavourful! Thanks for this new take on zucchini— my garden overflow-eth already!

gigi

long ago, i learned to use a small pinch of sugar when sauteing squash - much better flavor. i also definitely agree with the notes recommending sauteing the garlic briefly. the raw garlic is unpleasant and difficult to digest.

Kentfield Barbara

I added an extra step and ingredient. After Step 2 I seared some scallops in the same pan which, with a side of rice completed the dinner.

Melinda

So I also added the garlic and red pepper flakes with the white wine and butter to cook the rawness off, then once the sauce was finished, added the squash back into the pan for a minute off heat to help meld the flavors. Used mint as the herb; it was really delicious. Salting then patting dry the squash is essential; don’t skip this step, really put a beautiful brown sear on the squash. And I did sear the squash quickly on the second side as well. Would absolutely made again…

BAS

cooked sliced squash in oil, with some onion, then added lemon juice and sprinkled with parsley -- VG

kaylaps

I made the sauce with a few mods, a la Murphy below: a smaller amount of vegan butter mixed with some olive oil & finely minced garlic, microwaved for 30 seconds to get it started & then into the pan to pick up the fond after the veg was cooked; plenty of lemon juice, but skipped the wine (none open on a weeknight!). Prepared the zucchini itself with the cooking method recommended & poured the hot sauce over it. Yum! Great texture. Will do it again & modify sauce as the fridge/pantry dictates.

Richard

That's why these things are called accidents: they are not planned. I'm pretty sure that a note of caution is a good thing. Some food writers state that the flame should be OFF before adding wine.

Norman of BC

This seems like a bit of a reach. Many dishes can be manipulated to have a texture of a dissimilar food. This recipe is a good one but scampi-like it is not.

Chey

This is so good! Perfect for a meatless meal that's still filling

R

Empty the oil from the pan before adding the wine to avoid disaster!

S

I make a version of this but I use baby zucchini instead. It holds its crunch better. A super quick version for a side is baby zucchini, high quality mild olive oil (my favorite is Terre dell'Abbazia from Ursini available at Eataly), garlic powder, and red pepper flakes. Cooked in the oven for 10-15 minutes. Delicious!

Melody

Delicious! My meat-eating friends said it tasted just like shrimp scampi (only with zucchini). It was such a big hit I was forced to share the recipe.

Melissa P

they aren't kidding about reducing down the wine. I didn't reduce it enough, but then I was able to use the remaining sauce (after plating the zuccinis) for a small amount of spaghetti and it was perfect! I also cooked the garlic and pepper flakes in the remaining oil in the pan just quick enough to start to toast the garlic before adding the wine.

WanjikuN

Loved this recipe. I used three garlic cloves, olive oil instead of butter, and topped it with basil instead of parsley. I don’t love zucchini but cutting this one inch thick and just browning them on one side kept the texture firm. Even convinced other family members who don’t love zucchini to give it a chance!

Alexandra

I tossed the garlic into the butter. Yum!

Hank

Just okay. Need to pair this with the right main course, we had it with Mexican food and they did not align. The sauce is rich.

karen b

So happy to find yet another way to make zucchini! Did everything per the recipe except the raw garlic. I turned off the heat on the pan, added the butter and the garlic, then quickly added the other ingredients. Perfect.

kahki57

Too sweet with pino grigio. Omit wine. Took way longer to brown than suggested.

Claire in SF

Anything would taste great with this much butter. I will try this again with half the butter.

Barbara Aschenbrenner

I’d double the garlic, particularly if cooking it.

Add Shrimp!

I browned the zucchini (be sure to slice 1/2”) in two batches, with a slight browning on the opposite side. Then sprinkled the fresh garlic and red pepper flakes before placing in a 250 oven to keep warm. Heated the wine, but then added shrimp while it reduced. When cooked, added to Pyrex dish while I finished the sauce. Poured over the shrimp/zucchini and served over rice. Delicious!

Name Linda

Good with salmon

mary

Loved this. Will add toasted pine nuts next time.

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Zucchini Scampi Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What makes a scampi a scampi? ›

What is scampi? Traditionally, Italian cooks used small, lobster-like crustaceans called scampi, also known as Dublin Bay Prawns or Norway Lobsters, to make this dish. Now, it is more commonly made with shrimp--hence the name "shrimp scampi." Shrimp scampi is made with a simple sauce of garlic, butter, and white wine.

What does scampi mean in Italian? ›

The word “scampi” is Italian for a type of small crustacean akin to a mini lobster. They're similar to shrimp, but scampi — also known as Dublin Bay Prawn, langoustines, or Norway Lobster — aren't typically found in oceans near the U.S.

What can I use to thicken a scampi sauce? ›

Add Cornstarch or Flour: Mix a slurry of cornstarch or flour with water or broth until smooth, then gradually stir it into the sauce while simmering until desired thickness is reached. Be sure to cook the sauce for a few minutes after adding the slurry to remove any raw taste of the starch.

What's the difference between a prawn and a scampi? ›

In most countries, especially Italy, scampi means the peeled tail of pretty much any kind of prawn but in the UK it refers to the meat of just one special prawn: the langoustine. Langoustine is a small lobster found in the colder waters of Scotland, Ireland and Norway.

What is traditional scampi made from? ›

Shrimp scampi, loosely translated, means “shrimp shrimp” in Italian. And while the shrimp may be the star of the dish, there is so much more to it. Garlic, lemon, and parsley join forces in a velvety, buttery, wine sauce to form what might be one of the most iconic Italian-American seafood dishes.

What is scampi sauce made of? ›

Scampi sauce is butter, garlic, white wine cooked together with of course salt and pepper and lemon juice.

What is the black vein in scampi? ›

The black line on the top of a shrimp is its digestive tract, so yes, that's poop you can see. It's safe to eat, but in general people tend to prefer their shrimp deveined, i.e. with the digestive tract removed, because the tract can have a bitter taste and a sandy texture.

What do Americans call scampi? ›

Scampi are in fact tiny, lobster-like crustaceans with pale pink shells (also called langoustines). One traditional way of preparing them in Italy, Ms. Bastianich writes, is to sauté them with olive oil, garlic, onion and white wine. Italian cooks in the United States swapped shrimp for scampi, but kept both names.

What is traditional scampi? ›

Scampi is a seafood dish that includes various preparations of certain crustaceans, especially langoustine (the Italian name which gives the dish its name), as well as shrimp or prawns. Scampi preparation styles vary regionally. Nephrops norvegicus, the langoustine Scampi served Scampi in picante tomato sauce.

What is Olive Garden scampi sauce made of? ›

What is Olive Garden Scampi Sauce Made Of? The main ingredients of this sauce are butter, onion, garlic, white wine, chicken stock, and herbs.

Why is my scampi mushy? ›

Undercook and they'll be mushy and translucent; overcook and they'll be rubbery and nearly inedible. The best way to tell when shrimp are cooked through is to look for visual cues: “Watch for the shrimp to curl and turn opaque,” says Kendra.

How do you fix a broken scampi sauce? ›

The Fix Is Simple—Add Water Back.

Here's how fix a broken sauce: Add about ¼ cup of water to the pan and reheat the sauce to a vigorous simmer, whisking constantly. The bubbling action will help re-emulsify the butter and bring back that thick, glossy sauce.

Why leave tails on shrimp scampi? ›

The tail will insulate this thin area and prevent the meat from overcooking. Because this area is protected by the shell, it takes longer to cook. This creates the effect of a more uniformly thick piece of shrimp. Leaving the tail on also has aesthetic purposes.

What is scampi called in Canada? ›

In Canada and the US, scampi refers to a dish of large shrimp that are cooked with garlic and butter or olive oil.

What is the difference scampi and gamberetti? ›

As mentioned, the word scampi in Italian refers to a kind of crustacean, the Nephrops norvegicus, very similar to what in English we would call shrimp. (Ordinary shrimp are called gamberi.) The main difference is that scampi have front claws that make them look a bit like miniature lobsters.

What is proper scampi? ›

Langoustines are also known as Norway Lobsters, Dublin Bay Prawns and sometimes 'scampi' across Europe. Appearance-wise they look very similar to lobsters, but on a smaller scale. Unlike lobster, they don't change colour when cooked – instead they retain their lovely pale pink hue.

What are the characteristics of a scampi? ›

The scampi lives in burrows on soft sea bottoms at depths between 10 and 250 m (about 33 to 820 feet). It grows to about 200 mm (8 inches) in length and weighs about 200 g (0.44 pound). It is easily identified by its long, slender claws, which can be almost as long as the body.

What does scampi style mean? ›

They would prep everything the same way and call it “shrimp prepared scampi style” which was eventually shortened to “shrimp scampi”. • ”Scampi” as we know it today means that shrimp are sautéed with garlic in a sauce made from butter, white wine, and lemon juice. Italian parsley is also usually added.

Does scampi always have shrimp? ›

Well scampi literally means shrimp. But you certainly can prepare chicken in a white wine garlic butter sauce and it will be delicious.

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