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    Home » Italian » Shrimp Pesto

    Published: Jan 21, 2014 · Modified: Sep 9, 2019 by Lisa Johnson

    Shrimp Pesto

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    This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more information, please visit my disclosure page.

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    Shrimp Pesto with Pasta is loaded with vegetables and flavor for an easy weeknight meal! cookingwithcurls.com

    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!!

    Shrimp Pesto with Pasta is loaded with vegetables and flavor for an easy weeknight meal! cookingwithcurls.com

    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.

    Shrimp Pesto - cookingwithcurls.com

    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.....

    Shrimp Pesto basil cookingwithcurls.com

    Pulse to combine the ingredients, scraping down the sides as necessary. Slowly stream the olive oil into the pesto while it is running.....

    Shrimp Pesto pesto cookingwithcurls.com

    Add salt and pepper to taste, and set aside. Next we cook our carrots and onions.....

    Shrimp Pesto carrots cookingwithcurls.com

    Then add the zucchini, mushrooms, and bell pepper.....

    Shrimp Pesto veggies cookingwithcurls.com

    Remove the cooked vegetables, and heat the pesto and cook the shrimp.....

    Shrimp Pesto shrimp cookingwithcurls.com

    Return the vegetables to the pan and stir to coat with sauce.....

    Shrimp Pesto from cookingwithcurls.com

    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:

    Shrimp Pesto Pizza

    Green Pizza

    Kale Pesto

    Grilled Chicken and Peach Pesto Pizza

    Kale Pesto Mac & Cheese - you can substitute basil pesto

    Enjoy!!

    Shrimp Pesto with Pasta is loaded with vegetables and flavor for an easy weeknight meal! cookingwithcurls.com

    Shrimp Pesto

    Shrimp Pesto tossed with pasta, veggies and perfectly sauteed shrimp. Everyone in the family will love this easy, yet impressive, weeknight dinner!
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    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Italian
    Keyword: pesto, shrimp, basil, rice, recipe, pasta, zucchini, mushrooms, peppers
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 12 minutes
    Total Time: 27 minutes
    Servings: 4 Servings
    Calories: 739kcal
    Author: Lisa Johnson

    Ingredients

    Basil Pesto

    • 1 cup fresh basil leaves packed
    • ¼ cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese
    • ¼ 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
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    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.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 739kcal | Carbohydrates: 53g | Protein: 36g | Fat: 42g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 290mg | Sodium: 1021mg | Potassium: 804mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 7075IU | Vitamin C: 43.3mg | Calcium: 286mg | Iron: 4.4mg
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Kim Tobin says

      January 21, 2014 at 8:35 am

      That looks so delicious! I wish that my husband liked shrimp! I'll have to make it some night that he's out haha!

      Reply
      • Lisa Johnson says

        January 21, 2014 at 9:05 pm

        Thanks Kim, that sounds like a good plan! Or make it, and pull out all of his shrimp and put it on your plate! 😉

        Reply
    2. Happy Valley Chow says

      January 21, 2014 at 9:34 am

      I love using pesto in pasta dishes, adds such a great flavor especially with shrimp. Great recipe 🙂

      Happy Blogging!
      Happy Valley Chow

      Reply
      • Lisa Johnson says

        January 21, 2014 at 9:00 pm

        Thank you so much Eric! 🙂

        Reply
    3. Jen Marrs says

      January 21, 2014 at 11:06 am

      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

      Reply
      • Lisa Johnson says

        January 21, 2014 at 8:59 pm

        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. 🙂

        Reply
    4. Zainab says

      January 21, 2014 at 11:22 am

      I love all your challenges!! This shrimp dish looks so delicious and I love the pesto 🙂

      Reply
      • Lisa Johnson says

        January 21, 2014 at 8:57 pm

        Thank you Zainab. The challenges definitely keep me on my toes, and make me think up recipes that I might not usually try! 🙂

        Reply
    5. Kim says

      January 21, 2014 at 1:20 pm

      This looks awesome - I love all of the veggies included!!!

      Reply
      • Lisa Johnson says

        January 21, 2014 at 8:54 pm

        Thank you Kim...I am still trying to get those extra veggies in!! 🙂

        Reply
    6. Gloria // Simply Gloria says

      January 21, 2014 at 4:00 pm

      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!

      Reply
      • Lisa Johnson says

        January 21, 2014 at 8:53 pm

        Thank you Gloria, you always make me smile!! I will let you dive right in, just come on over....anytime! 🙂

        Reply
    7. Deb@CookingOnTheFrontBurner says

      January 21, 2014 at 10:22 pm

      You did a great job on the challenge Lisa! Shrimp and pasta - YES Please! Pinned

      Reply
    8. Andi @ The Weary Chef says

      January 22, 2014 at 1:36 pm

      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!

      Reply
    9. Allie | Baking a Moment says

      January 23, 2014 at 11:53 am

      What a fabulous dish, Lisa! All those yummy vegetables look so tempting coated with the flavorful sauce. Fresh, fast, and delish!

      Reply
    10. Heather @ Sugar Dish Me says

      January 26, 2014 at 8:01 am

      This is gorgeous, Lisa! Love pesto, love shrimp, love all the veggies! Delicious (and fast!) dinner!

      Reply
      • Lisa Johnson says

        January 27, 2014 at 4:23 pm

        Thank you so much Heather. 🙂

        Reply
    11. Kelly says

      January 28, 2014 at 7:10 am

      This looks amazing Lisa! I love the sound of this pasta dish and pesto - sounds so flavorful and tasty with all the veggies too:)

      Reply
    12. Mary Frances says

      February 02, 2014 at 1:02 pm

      Thanks for linking up with Sweet and Savory - this pesto looks amazing! And I really, really like shrimp 🙂 Yum!

      Reply
      • Lisa Johnson says

        February 03, 2014 at 7:52 pm

        Thank you so much Mary Frances, I hope you enjoy it! 🙂

        Reply
    13. AnnMarie says

      February 02, 2014 at 5:27 pm

      I showed the picture to my husband and he instantly approved! Pinned! Making this soon! Visiting from Sweet & Savoury Sunday

      Reply
      • Lisa Johnson says

        February 03, 2014 at 7:51 pm

        LOL, that is awesome AnnMarie! I really hope you both enjoy it. 🙂

        Reply
    14. Cheryl says

      February 04, 2014 at 11:57 pm

      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

      Reply
      • Lisa Johnson says

        February 15, 2014 at 1:01 am

        Thank you Cheryl, I hope she likes it! 🙂

        Reply
    15. Lorraine @ Cookin' For the Seven Dwarfs says

      February 08, 2014 at 8:46 pm

      Oh my gosh, Lisa! I love dishes like this! This is one of the most viewed posts at Sweet & Savoury Sunday! 🙂 And Pinning! YUM!

      Reply
      • Lisa Johnson says

        February 15, 2014 at 12:41 am

        Thank you Lorraine! 🙂

        Reply
    16. Laura@baking in pyjamas says

      February 09, 2014 at 7:30 am

      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!

      Reply
      • Lisa Johnson says

        February 15, 2014 at 12:38 am

        Thank you so much Laura. 🙂

        Reply
    17. Cathy@LemonTreeDwelling says

      September 28, 2014 at 8:48 pm

      This is totally my kind of pasta dish! Anything with pesto is a win in my book!!

      Reply

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    Hi, I'm Lisa - Welcome to my kitchen! I have a passion for good food and love sharing my creations with friends, family and everyone that loves a homecooked meal. This is where I share my favorite recipes with step-by-step instructions as well as tips and tricks to help you make these delicious recipes in your home.

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