Shrimp Pesto Basil Dish (Printer-Friendly)
Bright, flavorful pasta with sautéed shrimp and fresh basil pesto topped with pine nuts and Parmesan.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Pesto
01 -
2 oz fresh basil leaves
02 -
2 garlic cloves
03 -
2 oz Parmesan cheese, shaved or shredded
04 -
3 oz pine nuts
05 -
1/2 cup plus 2 tbsp olive oil
06 -
Salt, to taste
→ Shrimp
07 -
1 lb raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
08 -
2 tbsp canola oil
09 -
2 garlic cloves, pressed
10 -
2 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
11 -
Salt, to taste
12 -
Black pepper, to taste
→ Pasta
13 -
1 lb pasta of choice
14 -
1/2 to 2/3 cup reserved pasta cooking water
15 -
Shaved Parmesan cheese, for garnish
16 -
Pine nuts, for garnish
# Steps to Follow:
01 -
In a food processor, pour half of the olive oil. Add basil, pine nuts, Parmesan cheese, garlic, and salt, then drizzle the remaining olive oil over the top. Pulse to blend, scraping down the sides as needed until a smooth sauce forms. Set aside.
02 -
Boil pasta in salted water according to package instructions. Before draining, reserve 1 cup of pasta cooking water and set aside.
03 -
In a bowl, toss shrimp with salt, black pepper, pressed garlic cloves, and grated Parmesan until evenly coated.
04 -
Heat canola oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Sear shrimp for 2 minutes per side, or until opaque and cooked through. Remove from heat immediately to prevent overcooking.
05 -
In a separate bowl, toss cooked pasta with the prepared pesto and 1/2 to 2/3 cup reserved cooking water to loosen the sauce and enhance moisture.
06 -
Either mix seared shrimp into the pasta or plate the pasta first and arrange shrimp on top. Garnish with shaved Parmesan cheese and pine nuts before serving.
# Helpful Hints:
01 -
Toast pine nuts in a dry skillet over medium-low heat for 3 to 5 minutes, stirring frequently to enhance their flavor.
02 -
Reserve pasta cooking water to maintain pesto sauce moisture and prevent it from drying out.
03 -
Avoid tossing pesto in the hot pasta pot to prevent discoloration.