Linguine With Zucchini, Corn and Shrimp
Updated June 17, 2025

- Total Time
- 30 minutes
- Prep Time
- 10 minutes
- Cook Time
- 20 minutes
- Rating
- Comments
- Read comments
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Ingredients
- Kosher salt and black pepper
- 1pound linguine or other long pasta
- 1pound medium shrimp, peeled, deveined and tails removed (about 20 shrimp)
- 4tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4tablespoons olive oil
- 6garlic cloves, minced
- 1medium shallot or ½ medium onion, minced
- Red-pepper flakes
- 1large zucchini, cut into ¼-inch rounds, then each round cut into quarters
- 2cups corn kernels (2 to 3 large ears)
- ¼cup chopped fresh mint, for garnishing
- ¼cup chopped fresh basil, for garnishing
Preparation
- Step 1
In a large pasta pot, bring salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook according to the packaging directions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water, then drain the pasta and return it to the pot.
- Step 2
Meanwhile, pat the shrimp dry with a paper towel and season with salt. In a separate large pot, melt 2 tablespoons of butter into 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium high. Add shrimp in a single layer and cook until just opaque, about 2 minutes per side. Use tongs or a slotted spoon to extract shrimp and set aside.
- Step 3
Maintaining medium-high heat, add the garlic, shallot and a pinch each of salt, black pepper and red pepper, stirring constantly until the garlic is fragrant and shallot is translucent, about 3 minutes. Add zucchini and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 4 minutes. Add corn along with the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil and a pinch of salt; stir to coat. Cook until the corn is bright yellow and warm, about 2 minutes. Be careful not to overcook the vegetables, they should maintain their crispness.
- Step 4
Add pasta to the pot with the vegetables, followed by the shrimp, ½ cup of the reserved pasta water and the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter. Stir to combine, reheating the shrimp while creating a glossy sauce, for about 90 seconds. Remove from heat and add chopped mint and basil and stir. Adjust seasonings to taste. Serve immediately.
Private Notes
Comments
A suggestion for prepping your zucchini: Cut it in half from top to bottom, then use a grapefruit spoon to scoop out the pulp and seeds from the center and discard, as you would remove the center of a melon or squash. Slice the zucchini and sauté as per the instructions. Removing the seeds and watery pulp intensifies the flavor of the zucchini and makes it easer to get a little of that Maillard reaction browning around the edges.
Fantastic recipe (pasta, shrimp, fresh corn, zucc and more)+ great suggestions from NYT readers = 5 Stars! Used 3/4 lb. pasta, added 1 pint of halved cherry tomatoes, 1/4 t red pepper flakes, 1 T lemon juice, zest of 1 lemon, splash of white wine to deglaze the pan at Step 3.
I find that most NYT recipes assume that everything is prepped before you start. Even if that's not the case, the truth is I have never been able to make these recipes in the time suggested. I know that ahead of time and can pretty much figure out how long it will take me.
Why long pasta? With so many chunky elements, I tend to think short pasta would be better.
I know I'm in the minority, but I loathe corn except ground up as masa or polenta, as corn chips or tortillas. I substituted one can of garbanzo beans and was quite happy. Another time I might use crookneck squash and spinach.
Added lemon juice at the very end, loved it
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