Healthy Shrimp Scampi

I enjoy a good shrimp scampi, but with a great dish like that comes a lot of butter and carbs. This got me thinking, how can I still enjoy this delicious meal without the extra calories?

That's when I decided to make a lighter version that focused more on the lemon-garlic flavor, but excludes the butter which you would find in a more traditional version. I wanted to keep this dish as healthy as possible so instead of pairing it with pasta, I used spaghetti squash for something different. Other healthy pairings could include quinoa, zucchini noodles or some of your other favorite veggies. This simple shrimp scampi dish comes together in about 15 minutes, making this a perfect meal to have on a busy weeknight.

Healthy Shrimp Scampi:
Serves about 4
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 3-4 minutes, until just pink

Ingredients:

• 4 teaspoon olive oil
• 1 1/4 pounds med or jumbo raw shrimp, peeled and deveined (I prefer using Trader Joe's Wild Argentinian Red Shrimp, they have a sweet lobster like flavor and texture).
• 6-8 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 cup low sodium chicken broth
• 1/2 cup dry white wine
• 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
• 1/4 cup minced parsley
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
• 4 lemon wedges (optional)

Directions:

1. In a large nonstick skillet, heat the oil. Sauté the shrimp until just pink, about 3-4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook stirring constantly, about 30 seconds. With a slotted spoon transfer the shrimp to a platter and keep them warm.
2. In the skillet, combine the broth, wine, lemon juice, 1/4 cup of the parsley, the salt and pepper; and bring it to a boil. Boil uncovered, until the sauce is reduced by half.
3. Spoon the sauce over the shrimp. Serve garnished with the lemon wedges and sprinkled with the remaining tablespoon of parsley.

Note: Plate featured in this post is about 4 points on the Weight Watchers program. Points will vary when shrimp is paired with other options.