Thai Shrimp Scampi with Whole Wheat Pasta

Who doesn’t love it when they hear the word “scampi”?!  SCAM-PI.  Those two syllables usually make my mouth water and bring visions of fresh garlic, butter, olive oil, and lemons to my mind and taste buds.  But I really perk up when it is connected with two of my other favorite culinary words, “shrimp” and “Thai”.

Big juicy shrimp are almost always featured in scampi and they are almost always a part of my culinary dreams.  I try not to overdo my “love o’ shrimp” and do try to bring variety to my pasta blog recipes, but sometimes I just can’t help indulging myself! 🙂  For my other shrimp faves, check out this and this…

Thai cooking may seem intimidating sometimes too – those exotic, zippy and sometimes surprising flavor bursts in your mouth…but these flavors are pretty easy to create and replicate with some of today’s over the counter helpers.  I love the fact that this recipe is within hands reach for a weeknight – yes, you heard me…WEEKNIGHT recipe.  You’ll see these ready-to-go grocery finds listed in the recipe below and want to rush off to the store pronto!

So this Thai Shrimp Scampi brings the best of all this to your table – succulent shrimp, fresh lemongrass, carrots, asparagus, bean sprouts, fresh mint, fresh cilantro, and bold more complex Thai flavors…all tossed with some wholesome whole wheat pasta.  And ready in no time.  It will create an explosion of flavors in your mouth that will make you reconsider the “normal” shrimp scampi we all default to….and that’s great news!  We need to break out of our everyday expectations…

The one accent/accessory or thing that I think makes a lot of dishes WOW are the fresh toppings added.  How do a few ingredients transform a dish?  I don’t know!!  I just KNOW that it works – and this dish is no different.  Read it and do as it says…and don’t be afraid to add more.  Just do it!  (My sister says that I can be a bit bossy!)  And if this Thai recipe leaves you wanting more, check out our Thai Chicken Pasta recipe…enjoy!