Medium shrimp (41 to 50-count) is best for this recipe; use wild caught shrimp if possible.

Other long pasta shapes work, like linguine or bucatini. You could even swap in short pastas like rigatoni, penne, or bow ties.

Use olive oil for cooking instead of butter if desired. For dairy-free, omit the Parmesan cheese and add more salt to taste.

Pecorino Romano is another aged cheese that works well; Its flavor is slightly saltier and stronger than Parmesan.