Pesto Pasta is fun to say. It's a party for your taste buds. Hey, I can just eat pesto with a good piece of crusty bread. Adding it to pasta makes it out-of-this-world delicious.
Shrimp
To really drive our taste buds crazy we added Garlic Lemon Shrimp to the Pesto Pasta. If you haven't had Roasted Garlic and Shrimp you are missing out on some major deliciousness. We actually are going to make these shrimp as an appetizer. Recipe to come soon!
Pesto Pasta
We usually make this recipe with Fettuccine but you can use and shape pasta. This is one of my favorite ways to have pesto pasta. So last night when we were planning dinner. When I say planning dinner it was 6:00 and we were both standing in front of the pantry trying to figure out what we could make for dinner. We had shrimp in the freezer and just made fresh pesto so we thought of this recipe. Of course, we didn't have Fettuccine! These days we really try to plan our trips to the grocery store. We were not going to take the trip to the store for Fettuccine!
The only pasta we had in the house was Fusilli. We looked at each other and decided to go for it and use this pasta. Shhhhh don't tell the Fettuccine but I think the Fusilli was better.
Fusilli has ridges that filled up with the pesto. So every bite was filled with this yummy pesto flavor. Rotini would also work. Since Fusilli and Rotini are very similar in shape. I think the only pasta I might not use for this is Lasagna!!! Click here for list of pasta types.
Other fun recipes using lemon and or pasta are Pasta in garlic lemon sauce, Lemon ricotta pasta with shrimp and spinach, Lemon chicken, Lemon ricotta sauce with shrimp, Creamy Lemon pasta with shrimp, Herb crusted lamb, Fresh Tomato Pasta, Seared Scallop with Pasta, and of course, a dessert Blueberry lemon cheesecake
Roasted Garlic
Some of the great flavors in this pesto pasta recipe come from marinating of the Shrimp in Roasted Garlic. It is so easy to make roasted garlic ahead and takes a couple of minutes to put together and place into the oven. So simple, so good and so perfect!
A few weeks ago we found Roasted Garlic powder in the spice section. This has changed my life. . .well maybe not changed my life but it has made it nice during the summer. Making roasted garlic is really easy but the oven does heat up the house and if your house is like ours it is NEVER cool enough during the summer.
TIPS:
- Measure EVERYTHING!!!!
- Make Pesto ahead of time. This recipe will take less than 20 minutes to make.
- Use your favorite pasta.
Pesto Pasta and Lemon Shrimp
A Few Things We Use
Ingredients
Pesto
- 2 Cups Basil Packed
- 4 Cloves Garlic cloves
- 1 Lemon
- Lemon Zest from one lemon
- ½ Cup Parsley
- 2 Tablespoons Sunflower Seeds Or Pinenuts
- ⅓ Cup Olive Oil
- ⅓ Cup Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon Sea Salt
- 1 Habanero These are spicy (Optional!!!)
Shrimp
- 1 ½ Pound Shrimp
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 Tablespoons Roasted Garlic See the recipe on our blog (or use 2 teaspoons of Roasted Garlic powder)
- 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
Pasta
- 1 Pound Pasta (Fettuccini, Fusilli or use your favorite pasta)
- ½ Cup Parmesan cheese
Instructions
Pesto
- Zest the lemon
- Add Basil, Parsley, Garlic, Lemon Juice, Lemon Zest, and Parmesan Cheese to a food processor. Also, add Pepper if making it spicy.
- Start blending and slowly add the olive oil
- Blend until the pesto is the consistency you want. Set Aside
Shrimp
- Clean the Shrimp
- Roasted Garlic (See Recipe on this blog)
- Add Zest and Lemon Juice to Shrimp.
- Add Roasted Garlic to Shrimp
- Mix together and marinate for 15 minutes
- Heat One Olive Oil Tablespoon in a Sauté pan. About 15 to 20 seconds.
- Add Shrimp to the Sauté pan and Cook for 3 to 4 minutes.
Pasta
- While the shrimp is marinating, start the pasta water. When the water starts to boil, add 2 Tablespoons of salt.Cook Pasta al dente (according to the box). Use your favorite pasta, such as Fettuccini, Fusilli, or BucatiniWhen the Pasta is done, add it to the Shrimp.
- Add ¼ to ½ Cup of Pasta water with the Pasta and Shrimp
- Stir the Pesto into the Pasta/Shrimp. Turn off heat
- Add Cheese
- Enjoy!!!
Sue says
This is a Great looking Salad Can't wait to make it
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dietas fitness says
Great recipe!
Amy says
Thank you!!!!