So, the other day I was craving something different for dinner, and my mind went straight to pizza. But not just any pizza – I wanted that Shrimp Scampi Pizza from California Pizza Kitchen. I’d had it once before and it was great, but I didn’t feel like going out, so I thought, why not try making it myself?
First things first, I needed a game plan. I hit up the internet, searching for “Shrimp Scampi Pizza California Pizza Kitchen recipe”. I found a few variations, but most of them seemed pretty straightforward. The main components were the shrimp, the garlic-shallot butter, and of course, the pizza dough and cheese.
I already had some pizza dough in the fridge, so that was one less thing to worry about. I went to the grocery store to get some stuff, especially the fresh ingredients like shrimp and a shallot. Oh boy, I thought this will be interesting.
I started with the garlic-shallot butter, since that seemed like it would take the longest. I had to make the butter first. The recipe I found called for 4 tablespoons of unsalted butter. I chopped up the shallot and a few cloves of garlic. I melted the butter in a pan, tossed in the shallot and garlic, and let them cook until they were soft. I gotta say, the smell was already making my mouth water.
The Shrimp
Next up was the shrimp. I peeled and deveined them, then I cooked them with some of the garlic-shallot butter. I made sure not to overcook them – just until they turned pink and opaque. That was quite a time.
Putting It All Together
I rolled out the pizza dough, brushed it with the remaining garlic-shallot butter, and sprinkled on some mozzarella cheese. Then, I arranged the cooked shrimp on top and added a bit more cheese. Some recipes called for other toppings like red pepper flakes or parsley, but I decided to keep it simple. I popped the pizza into a preheated oven. The temperature was pretty high, like 450 degrees Fahrenheit. I baked it for about 12-15 minutes until the crust was golden brown and the cheese was all bubbly and melted. The waiting was the hardest part, man. My stomach was already singing.
When it was done, I pulled it out of the oven and let it cool for a few minutes. I’m not gonna lie, it looked pretty darn good. I sliced it up and took a bite.
It wasn’t exactly like the one from California Pizza Kitchen, but it was still delicious. The shrimp was flavorful, the garlic-shallot butter added a nice richness, and the crust was crispy. It was a fun little cooking adventure, and I was pretty proud of myself for pulling it off.
I think next time I might try adding some other veggies or maybe experimenting with different cheeses. But overall, I’d say this homemade Shrimp Scampi Pizza was a success! If you’re a fan of shrimp and pizza, you should definitely give it a try. You might surprise yourself with what you can create in your own kitchen. And you know, it’s way cheaper than ordering out!
