Garlic Butter Shrimp Buldak (Print version)

Succulent shrimp sautéed in garlic butter with spicy buldak sauce and tender pasta for a flavorful meal.

# What You Need:

→ Seafood

01 - 1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined

→ Pasta

02 - 12 oz spaghetti or linguine

→ Garlic Butter

03 - 3 tbsp unsalted butter
04 - 5 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 tbsp olive oil

→ Buldak Sauce

06 - 3 tbsp gochugaru (Korean red chili flakes)
07 - 2 tbsp gochujang (Korean red chili paste)
08 - 2 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
09 - 1 tbsp honey or brown sugar
10 - 2 tsp rice vinegar
11 - 1 tsp toasted sesame oil
12 - 2 tbsp water

→ Garnish

13 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
14 - 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds

# How to Make:

01 - Prepare pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain and reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water.
02 - Combine all buldak sauce ingredients in a bowl and whisk until smooth.
03 - Heat olive oil and 2 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add minced garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
04 - Arrange shrimp in a single layer in the skillet and cook 1–2 minutes per side until just pink. Remove shrimp and set aside.
05 - Pour the prepared buldak sauce into the skillet and simmer for 1–2 minutes until bubbling.
06 - Add drained pasta to the skillet and toss to coat evenly. Add reserved pasta water as needed for desired consistency.
07 - Return shrimp to the skillet along with the remaining butter. Toss to combine and cook for 1 minute until heated through.
08 - Serve immediately, topped with chopped parsley and toasted sesame seeds.

# Expert tips:

01 -
  • This is that surprise dinner you whip out to wake up bored taste buds—a little spicy, impossibly moreish, and far from typical pasta.
  • The mix of tender shrimp, fiery sauce, and luscious noodles became my midweek power move when I needed something both comforting and electrifying.
02 -
  • One time my garlic browned too fast and the entire batch tasted bitter—always mind your heat and stir patiently.
  • Adding the reserved pasta water truly transforms the sauce; it seems small, but it&aposs the secret to silky, restaurant-style pasta at home.
03 -
  • If you want next-level flavor, toast your sesame seeds right before topping for irresistible nuttiness.
  • Let the shrimp rest after cooking for a moment—it keeps them juicy and prevents rubbery bites.
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