What is scampi?

Scampi is the Italian word for prawn, a small crustacean that's similar to shrimp. In the United States, scampi generally refers to a dish made with shrimp or other shellfish, butter and garlic.

Shrimp scampi is a popular seafood dish that's usually served over linguine or angel hair pasta as a main dish, although it's sometimes served as a standalone dish, often with a breadcrumb topping. In addition to seared shrimp, basic scampi always contains butter or oil, garlic and lemon, and it commonly includes a white or other light wine and red pepper flakes to give it a little kick.