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As you have probably figured out from the title, I have found another challenge.....the GYCO "Get Your Chef On" Challenge!! This month's ingredient is Shrimp... I'm sure you figured that out from the title as well. 😉 What you don't know yet, is how crazy delicious this Shrimp Pesto is!!
I was so excited when I saw that the ingredient was shrimp, I love shrimp! I cook with shrimp all of the time, and then it hit me. I have already posted all of my favorite shrimp recipes.....oughto! There were two different recipes that I had been working on, and I finally settled on this one.....Shrimp Pesto.
I made a dish very similar to this one many, many years ago...like 23 years ago, right after I first got married. That version was loaded with butter, so that was the first thing to go. I wanted to keep it light, and fresh, and it worked. You can serve the shrimp with pasta, or steamed rice. In a lot of ways this dish is very similar to a stir-fry, but has Italian flavors.
How to make Shrimp Pesto:
We start by preparing our basil pesto. You could use jarred pesto if you prefer. They usually add milk to prepared pesto, so I have to make my own. Place the basil, garlic, pine nuts, and Parmesan in the bowl of your food processor.....
Pulse to combine the ingredients, scraping down the sides as necessary. Slowly stream the olive oil into the pesto while it is running.....
Add salt and pepper to taste, and set aside. Next we cook our carrots and onions.....
Then add the zucchini, mushrooms, and bell pepper.....
Remove the cooked vegetables, and heat the pesto and cook the shrimp.....
Return the vegetables to the pan and stir to coat with sauce.....
The vegetables are cooked until tender, but still crisp. No mushy vegetables here! Start to finish...30 minutes!! If you like a little zing, add some crushed red pepper flakes. 🙂
More delicious pesto based recipes:
Grilled Chicken and Peach Pesto Pizza
Kale Pesto Mac & Cheese - you can substitute basil pesto
Enjoy!!
Shrimp Pesto
Ingredients
Basil Pesto
- 1 cup fresh basil leaves packed
- 1/4 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 Tablespoons pine nuts
- 2 Large cloves fresh garlic minced
- sea salt & fresh ground pepper to taste
To Prepare
- 6 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 Large carrots cut into 1/4 inch slices
- 1 Small yellow onion thinly sliced
- 2 Small zucchini cut into 1/4 inch slices
- 8 Ounces sliced baby bella mushrooms
- 1 Small red bell pepper seeded and sliced lengthwise
- 1 Pound medium-sized raw shrimp peeled and deveined
- 8 Ounces linguine or spaghetti cooked and drained
Instructions
- Place basil, Parmesan, pine nuts, and garlic in a food processor. Pulse a few times. Slowly add the olive oil in a constant stream while processing. Stop and scrape down sides as necessary. Add salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.
- Heat 2 Tablespoons of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the carrots and onions and cook for 2 minutes.
- Add 2 more Tablespoons of oil to the skillet, and add the zucchini, bell pepper, and mushrooms. Cook for an additional 2 minutes, or until the carrots are almost tender.
- Remove vegetables from the skillet and keep warm.
- Add 2 Tablespoons oil to skillet, stir in basil pesto sauce. Add the shrimp and cook until they turn pink, 3 - 4 minutes.
- Return the vegetables to the skillet and stir until covered with sauce.
- Serve over cooked pasta or steamed rice.
Kim Tobin says
That looks so delicious! I wish that my husband liked shrimp! I'll have to make it some night that he's out haha!
Lisa Johnson says
Thanks Kim, that sounds like a good plan! Or make it, and pull out all of his shrimp and put it on your plate! 😉
Happy Valley Chow says
I love using pesto in pasta dishes, adds such a great flavor especially with shrimp. Great recipe 🙂
Happy Blogging!
Happy Valley Chow
Lisa Johnson says
Thank you so much Eric! 🙂
Jen Marrs says
Oh my word, I am drooling over here! This looks fantastic! I have to try this! Thank you for entering in the cooking challenge! -Jen
Lisa Johnson says
Thank you Jen, and thanks for the challenge! I hope you do try it, it's really easy to make and my family loves it. 🙂
Zainab says
I love all your challenges!! This shrimp dish looks so delicious and I love the pesto 🙂
Lisa Johnson says
Thank you Zainab. The challenges definitely keep me on my toes, and make me think up recipes that I might not usually try! 🙂
Kim says
This looks awesome - I love all of the veggies included!!!
Lisa Johnson says
Thank you Kim...I am still trying to get those extra veggies in!! 🙂
Gloria // Simply Gloria says
Lisa, I LOVE how you did your shrimp dish with pesto! You're so creative. I seriously just want to dive right in to this bowl of pasta... no lie... straight in!
Lisa Johnson says
Thank you Gloria, you always make me smile!! I will let you dive right in, just come on over....anytime! 🙂
Deb@CookingOnTheFrontBurner says
You did a great job on the challenge Lisa! Shrimp and pasta - YES Please! Pinned
Andi @ The Weary Chef says
Lisa, this is my kind of pasta! I love shrimp any way I can get them. Can I tell you once again that your photos are looking so amazing? Beautiful job!
Allie | Baking a Moment says
What a fabulous dish, Lisa! All those yummy vegetables look so tempting coated with the flavorful sauce. Fresh, fast, and delish!
Heather @ Sugar Dish Me says
This is gorgeous, Lisa! Love pesto, love shrimp, love all the veggies! Delicious (and fast!) dinner!
Lisa Johnson says
Thank you so much Heather. 🙂
Kelly says
This looks amazing Lisa! I love the sound of this pasta dish and pesto - sounds so flavorful and tasty with all the veggies too:)
Mary Frances says
Thanks for linking up with Sweet and Savory - this pesto looks amazing! And I really, really like shrimp 🙂 Yum!
Lisa Johnson says
Thank you so much Mary Frances, I hope you enjoy it! 🙂
AnnMarie says
I showed the picture to my husband and he instantly approved! Pinned! Making this soon! Visiting from Sweet & Savoury Sunday
Lisa Johnson says
LOL, that is awesome AnnMarie! I really hope you both enjoy it. 🙂
Cheryl says
I stopped by from Cast Party Wednesday because I'm always looking for good recipes for my pescetarian daughter and this looks yummy. Thanks so much for sharing, this is going on the pescetarian approved list! HUGS
Lisa Johnson says
Thank you Cheryl, I hope she likes it! 🙂
Lorraine @ Cookin' For the Seven Dwarfs says
Oh my gosh, Lisa! I love dishes like this! This is one of the most viewed posts at Sweet & Savoury Sunday! 🙂 And Pinning! YUM!
Lisa Johnson says
Thank you Lorraine! 🙂
Laura@baking in pyjamas says
Those prawns look so succulent! What a great dish. Thanks for linking up to Sweet and Savoury Sundays, stop by and link up again this weekend!
Lisa Johnson says
Thank you so much Laura. 🙂
Cathy@LemonTreeDwelling says
This is totally my kind of pasta dish! Anything with pesto is a win in my book!!