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Make this Argentine Shrimp Recipe with easy scampi sauce and serve it over pasta or zucchini noodles for an impressive dinner. This succulent shrimp shines in this easy lemon, butter, and garlic sauce with a hint of white wine!

Sometimes all you need to shake up a dinner routine is a new twist on an old favorite! When beautiful Argentine red shrimp were on sale at the grocery store, that's exactly what happened at my house.
Simply sautéing this sweet shrimp in my go-to scampi sauce and serving it over low-carb pasta turned the meal into something extraordinary. My taste buds were on alert, and I savored every bite.
I've used the same trick when rock shrimp is in season to elevate dinner. It's an easy way to try new types of seafood at home with minimal effort. Of course, this recipe can be made with regular shrimp too.
What are Argentine shrimp?
Argentine Red Shrimp are sourced from the South Atlantic, off the coast of Argentina, in the deep cold waters of Patagonia. They're a vibrant red color before they're cooked. So, the name perfectly describes them.
They're often compared to lobster because of their sweet flavor and delicate but meaty texture. They're also known as Patagonian King Prawns.
They're sometimes confused with royal red shrimp, which is caught off the coast of Florida. They are different!
You'll find them sold in some grocery chains, like Trader Joe's, and often at your favorite fish market when they're in season. They're perfectly safe to eat when cooked.
Ingredients and Substitutions
Here's what you'll need to make this easy Argentine Shrimp recipe:
Variations and Substitutions:
- Chicken or vegetable stock can be used instead of wine.
- Wine is optional. Use dry white wine and select a bottle that you would be able to drink. Avoid the bottles on the condiment aisle which have extra salt. Good choices include Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Gris, and Pinot Blanc.
- If using fresh lemon, zest it for a more intense flavor.
- Parsley is completely optional!
- Add red pepper flakes for a bit of heat.
- Any size or type of shrimp may be used. Ours were extra large-sized and a rare treat at our house!
How to Prepare Argentine Shrimp
Depending on how much preparation has occurred to the shrimp before purchase, you'll have some choices to make:
- Peel On or Off? Either way is perfectly fine. The shell adds flavor to the shrimp as it cooks. I prefer peeled shrimp, so all the work is done before I get to the table! It's often sold as EZ Peel, which means the shrimp has been deveined, and the shell is easily removed.
- Tail On or Off? This is also a matter of personal preference and is often left in place for a fancier presentation or easily picking shrimp up with your fingers.
- Deveined or Not? It is not harmful to eat the vein (technically the digestive tract) of shrimp. But, for a scampi, we recommend taking the extra step to remove it. It's easy to do if it still needs to be removed.
- Shell off - Insert the tip of a paring knife about ¼ inch into the back of the shrimp and cut down the middle exposing the vein. Use the tip of the knife or your fingers to pull the vein out and discard it.
- Shell on - Use a paring knife to cut a slit in the shell of the shrimp as well as the flesh and then pull out the vein. (See the picture below.)
Directions with Pictures
Here's how to make the scampi sauce for this Argentine shrimp recipe. Note: we used peeled and deveined shrimp! I left the tail on a few.
To cook the shrimp:
- Melt butter over medium-high heat in a large pan. Add olive oil and garlic to the pan and cook for about 1 minute to soften the garlic.
- Add a pinch of red pepper flakes for a bit of kick if desired.
- Place shrimp in the melted butter, toss to coat, and then arrange in a single layer. Don't crowd the shrimp. Cook it in batches if necessary.
- Cook shrimp for about 2 minutes, flip to the other side and cook for 2-3 minutes more. The exact timing depends upon the size of the shrimp. Shrimp is done when it turns opaque and the tail begins to curl.
- Using tongs to remove shrimp to a serving dish, leaving excess sauce behind. Cover to keep it warm.
Don't overcook. As with any type of shrimp, Argentine red shrimp will become rubbery if cooked too long.
To make the flavorful garlic butter sauce:
- Melt the remaining butter in the pan, add lemon juice and white wine (or broth,) and stir to combine.
- Allow sauce to simmer over low heat for about 5 minutes or until the sauce has reduced and thickened.
- Drag a spatula across the scampi sauce to see the progress.
- Return Argentine shrimp to the pan and toss with the lemon butter garlic sauce (or pour it over the shrimp in the serving dish.)
If serving with pasta, add a quarter cup of reserved pasta water to the sauce. Stir cooked pasta and shrimp into the pan and toss to coat with the sauce. Garnish with chopped parsley and lemon slices for a finished look and enjoy.
Serving Ideas
Here are some ways to round out a menu that includes Argentine Shrimp Scampi.
- Pasta of any kind. If you're looking for a low-carb option, check out Carba-Nada Low-carb Pasta which is pictured. Toss in your favorite veggies, such as asparagus or mushrooms.
- Zucchini noodles, which can also be combined with pasta.
- Zucchini Alfredo!
- Bread is also a traditional choice and is used to sop up the delicious sauce.
Want more creative and healthy ways to enjoy shrimp? Check out our ultimate collection of the 25+ Best Side Dishes for Shrimp!
Storage
Store leftover Argentine shrimp scampi in the refrigerator for 3-4 days in an airtight container. Cooked shrimp can also be frozen for about 2 months.
More Delicious Shrimp Recipes
Make these recipes using Argentine shrimp too!
Did you make this recipe?
Please leave a rating and tell us how you liked it!
📋 Recipe
Argentine Shrimp Recipe with Easy Scampi Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 pound red Argentine shrimp peeled, deveined, tail on or off
- 3 tablespoon butter unsalted
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 4 garlic cloves pressed or minced
- 2 tablespoon lemon juice or juice of 1 lemon
- ¼ cup white wine or vegetable/chicken broth
Instructions
- Melt 1 Tablespoon butter in a skillet over medium heat.
- Add olive oil and garlic to skillet. Cook for about 1 minute or until garlic is golden and fragrant.
- Add shrimp to skillet, toss to coat with butter mixture, and then spread into a single layer.
- Cook shrimp for about 2 minutes, turn to other side and cook for 2-3 minutes more. The exact timing will depend upon the size of the shrimp. They are done when they begin to curl and turn opaque. Note: Do not overcook or they will become rubbery.
- Using tongs, lift shrimp to serving dish and cover to keep warm.
- Melt remaining butter in the skillet.
- Add lemon juice and wine or vegetable broth and stir to combine. Allow sauce to simmer over low heat for about 5 minutes or until it has reduced and thickened.
- Return shrimp to pan and toss and mix into sauce or pour it over the shrimp in the serving dish. Garnish with chopped parsley, if using and enjoy.
- Optional: If serving with pasta, reserve ¼ cup of the pasta water to stir into the sauce. Stir cooked pasta into the sauce with the shrimp and serving time.
Notes
- Chicken or vegetable stock can be used instead of wine.
- If using white wine, select a dry bottle that you would be able to drink. The bottles on the condiment aisle include extra salt and should be avoided. Good choices include Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Gris, and Pinot Blanc.
- If using fresh lemon, zest it too for more intense flavor.
- Parsley is completely optional!
- Red pepper flakes can be added for a bit of heat.
- Any size or type of shrimp may be used. Ours were colossal-sized and a rare treat at our house!
- Low-carb Carba-Nada Noodles
- Zucchini noodles
- Angel Hair, Fettucine or your favorite pasta
Karen
Easy and delicious scampi recipe. I couldn’t find red Argentine shrimp so I made this with tiger shrimp. I doubled the sauce to have plenty for pasta.
Heather
Super quick and easy and absolutely delicious!
Marjory Pilley
I'm so glad you enjoyed it!
Leeann
Would scallops work with this and adding artichoke hearts too?
Marjory Pilley
Yes it should! Sounds delicious!
Gene
I used a full bulb, 16 nice cloves of Certified Organic Chesnok Red garlic from Basaltic Farms. 1 lb. of unsalted butter and 1/2 cup of heavy cream 1/4 cup of Pinot Grigio, the juice and zest of 1 lemon. Added some nice butter sautéed mushrooms to the Argentine Shrimp. Added the wide noodles to pan to soak up the sauce. My 3 boys made it disappear with some crusty sourdough. The side dish was boiled artichokes I added the discarded lemons to boiling water. Yum Yum
Marjory Pilley
Sounds amazing! Thanks for sharing.
Kathi
Easy and delicious. I would definitely make this again.
Marjory Pilley
I'm so glad you enjoyed it!
Hunter Heck
Thank you!! Soooo good!
Carolyn
This is a keeper made as recipe said and added a few capers which I like with Shrimp...
Marjory Pilley
I'm so glad you enjoyed it! Love the capers!!!
JoAnn
DELISH! Probably the best dinner I have made in a long time! Bonus...I had all the ingredients on hand. Thank you!
Marjory Pilley
I'm so glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for taking the time to comment!!!
Mary lukowsko
Wow. First time for these shrimp. Kind of a pain to peel and de vein. But I did. Tasted them. Wohooooo. Not shrimp taste at all. Delicious. I sometime get tired of shrimp. These do taste like lobster. Wowo. Going to make these from now on. Tender and sweet. Yummmy
Marjory Pilley
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!