Simple Garlic Shrimp

• 1 ½ tablespoons olive oil
• 1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined
• salt to taste
• 6 cloves garlic, finely minced
• ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 3 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon caper brine
• 2 tablespoons cold butter, cut into 4 equal pieces, divided
• ⅓ cup chopped flat-leaf parsley, divided
• 1 teaspoon water, or as needed

Instructions

1. 1

   Gather all ingredients.

2. 2

   Heat olive oil in a heavy skillet over high heat until it just begins to smoke.

3. 3

   Place shrimp in an even layer on the bottom of the pan and cook for 1 minute without stirring.

4. 4

   Season shrimp with salt; cook and stir until shrimp begin to turn pink, about 1 minute.

5. 5

   Add garlic and red pepper flakes; cook and stir for 1 minute.

6. 6

   Stir in lemon juice, caper brine, 1 piece of butter, and 1/2 of the parsley; cook until butter has melted, about 1 minute.

7. 7

   Reduce heat to low and stir in remaining 3 pieces butter.

8. 8

   Cook and stir until butter has melted, sauce is thick, and shrimp are pink and opaque, 2 to 3 minutes.

9. 9

   Remove shrimp with a slotted spoon and transfer to a bowl; continue to cook butter sauce, adding water, 1 teaspoon at a time, if too thick, about 2 minutes.

10. 10

    Season with salt to taste; serve shrimp topped with the pan sauce and remaining parsley.