Description
A delicious and easy shrimp pesto pasta recipe that combines fresh basil, garlic, and cheese with succulent shrimp and your favorite pasta.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 oz basil
- 4 cloves garlic
- 2 oz Parmesan cheese (block, shaved, or shredded)
- 3 oz pine nuts
- 1/2 cup + 2 Tbsp olive oil
- to taste salt
- 1 lb shrimp
- 2 Tbsp canola oil
- 2 Tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
- to taste black pepper
- 1 lb pasta (any favorite pasta)
- 1/2–2/3 cup cooking water
- for topping shaved Parmesan cheese
- for topping pine nuts
Instructions
- In a food processor, add about half the oil.
- Add basil, pine nuts, cheese, garlic, and salt to the blender and pour remaining olive oil over the top.
- Pulse several times to begin to blend. Scrape sides of the blender and pulse a few more times. You may need to scrape the sides again and pulse a few more times until all ingredients are well blended.
- Set aside until ready to mix into pasta.
- Cook shrimp while pasta is cooking.
- Cook pasta according to the box instructions and before draining off water, set aside about a cup of cooking water.
- Toss shrimp in a mixing bowl with salt, pepper, pressed garlic cloves, and grated Parmesan cheese until evenly coated.
- Preheat a large cooking pan over medium-high heat for a few minutes and add canola oil.
- Sear shrimp for about 2 minutes on each side, until they turn completely opaque. Take the shrimp out of the pan as soon as they are cooked.
- Toss cooked pasta with pesto and about 1/2-2/3 cup of cooking water.
- You can mix the shrimp right into the pasta or simply add it to the top of pasta.
- Garnish with some shaved Parmesan cheese and toasted pine nuts and serve!
Notes
- You may need to adjust the olive oil quantity based on your desired pesto consistency.
- Feel free to add more vegetables for extra flavor and nutrition.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: 600
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 900mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 70g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 200mg