This easy and healthy Pesto Shrimp Pasta recipe combines juicy shrimp, vibrant pesto, and the bold flavor of healthy pasta to create a dish that's not only a feast for your taste buds, but also a nutritional addition to your meals.
Easy and Healthy Pesto Shrimp Pasta
Pasta is one of my favorite dishes to make when I'm feeling lazy and just want to relax on the couch and binge-watch some Netflix shows without sacrificing the quality of the food 😋.
It's easy, quick, and versatile, and I can make a delicious sauce using whatever ingredients I have on hand. One of my go-to recipes is this pasta, which is perfect for Valentine's Day or any special occasion.
I especially like this recipe because it's so easy and healthy and since I'm using “semolina pasta” it has less cheese.
So we saved the extra calories in the white flour pasta and used less cheese.
Ingredients for Pesto Shrimp Pasta:
Although the recipe looks simple, the ingredients are simple and easy to find in any household. Let's collect them:
spaghetti – I used semolina pasta but you can use any regular pasta
pesto – You can use homemade or store-bought pesto
shrimp – I used deveined, cooked, and peeled shrimp, but you can also use clean, raw shrimp
pea – Using frozen peas, you can use fresh peas or skip it entirely
tomato – I used cherry tomatoes because they add a nice sweet-tart flavor, but you can use regular tomatoes too.
garlic
seasoning: Chili flakes, black pepper and salt.
olive oil – Make pasta
How to Make Pesto Shrimp Pasta:
You'll be amazed at how the fresh, aromatic pesto complements the juicy, tender shrimp in this one-pot wonder.
Pasta is so delicious and satisfying that you won't be able to help but want more than one serving…so don't hesitate and let's start cooking 😺.
As with all pasta recipes, we start by boiling the water with some salt and oil (To ensure the pasta doesn’t stick together).
Then add the uncooked pasta and cook according to package directions. Once cooked, drain the water and keep the pasta in the net.
Now, heat a pan with some oil.
Add garlic and sauté for 30 seconds.
Add seasonings and sauté until fragrant. Add frozen peas and sauté for 2 minutes.
Now, add the pesto and sauté everything.
Add tomatoes and saute until fragrant.
Add shrimp and sauté for 2-3 minutes.
Add the cooked and drained pasta and sauté for a minute.
Cook over low heat and sauté for 3 minutes.
Finally, add the cheese and mix everything together.
Check the flavor of the seasoning and pesto before turning off the heat.
Once all done, turn off the heat and transfer to a bowl.
Add chopped cilantro (as per choice) or fresh black pepper and chili flakes.
Serve hot.
Health benefits:
- Lean protein: Shrimp is an excellent source of lean protein, which is essential for muscle repair and overall body function.
- Whole grains: Choosing whole wheat, semolina, or gluten-free pasta provides complex carbohydrates and fiber to promote sustained energy levels.
- full of nutrition: Tomatoes, peas and basil provide essential vitamins and minerals such as iron and vitamin K.
- Heart-healthy fats: Olive oil and pine nuts contain heart-healthy monounsaturated fats that support cardiovascular health.
This dish is a great way to show your love and appreciation to your partner with a mouth-watering meal that requires minimal effort 😉
When you taste the earthy flavor of pesto and the umami flavor of shrimp paste in this one-pot comfort pasta meal, you won’t be able to resist your taste buds asking for a second or third helping….
Serving suggestions:
My favorite way to serve pasta is with a good dry white wine or your favorite white wine Sauvignon Blanc.
For food pairing, you can serve it with fresh and simple salads, sautéed vegetables, fish or meat dishes.
You can also pair it with lemonade or sparkling soda.
Not only is this recipe a time-saving solution for busy weeknights, but it's also a sure-fire way to impress family and friends with your cooking skills.
So grab your ingredients, fire up the stove, and indulge in the delightful blend of flavors in this healthy and satisfying dish. Bon appetit❤️
:: You may also like::
Butter Lemon Shrimp with Rice Cauliflower Cilantro Lime
Spicy Shrimp Fried Rice (Authentic Restaurant Style)
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Tried our recipe – it was great! ! !
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Preparation time
10 minutes
cooking time
15 minutes
total time
25 minutes
raw material
-
1/2 pound cooked large shrimp, peeled and deveined*
-
8 ounces semolina pasta*
-
1 cup cherry tomatoes
-
1 cup frozen peas
-
2 cloves garlic, minced
-
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
-
4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
-
4 cups water – to cook the pasta
seasoning:
-
1 teaspoon chili flakes
-
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
-
Add salt to taste
instruct
Cook the pasta:
- Heat a large pasta pot and add water.
- Add salt and 1 teaspoon oil and bring to a boil.
- Add pasta and cook according to package directions.
- Once cooked, drain the water, place the pasta on a sieve and set aside.
Make healthy pesto shrimp pasta:
- Heat a pan and add 2 tablespoons of olive oil.
- Add garlic and sauté for 30 seconds.
- Add seasonings and sauté until fragrant.
- Now add the frozen peas and fry for 2 minutes.
- Add the pesto and saute until fragrant, then sauté everything.
- Add tomatoes and saute until fragrant.
- Add shrimp and sauté for 2-3 minutes.
- Add the cooked and drained pasta and sauté for a minute.
- Cook over low heat and sauté for 3 minutes.
- Finally, add the cheese and mix everything.
- Check the flavor of the seasoning and pesto before turning off the heat.
- Once all done, turn off the heat and transfer to a bowl.
- Add chopped cilantro (as per choice) or fresh black pepper and chili flakes.
- Serve hot.
notes
shrimp: I used cooked shrimp, you can also use raw shrimp, but it will take longer to cook.
Spaghetti: I used semolina pasta, but you can use any pasta, including gluten-free pasta, lentil pasta, or whole wheat pasta.
Nutritional information:
yield:
2
Serving size:
1
Amount per serving:
Calories: 800Total fat: 39 gramsSaturated fat: 9 gramsTrans fat: 0 gramsUnsaturated fat: 27 gramscholesterol: 261 mgsodium: 600mgcarbohydrate: 143 gramsfiber: 12 gramssugar: 6 gramsprotein: 60g