Fresh pesto is best when tossed with pasta. Add sautéed shrimp, green peas, and fresh basil; you've got the perfect elegant yet simple dinner or lunch. First fresh basil, spinach, garlic, shallots, salt, black pepper, pecans, Parmesan cheese, and olive oil are pulsed to create a delicious pesto. Then the pesto is tossed with pasta, green peas, and basil to create a filling, hearty meal. The only thing that can make this meal better is butter bread or vegan garlic bread.
Why is pesto so fattening?
Pesto contains large amounts of oil, nuts, and Parmesan cheese. Although these are healthy fats, if you eat pesto too much without exercising, you may experience weight gain.
What meat goes good with pesto pasta?
Pesto pasta works well with several types of meat including pork, chicken, beef, and seafood.
Is pesto pasta unhealthy?
Both pesto and pasta have a lot of calories. Additionally, pasta is high in carbs which can be unhealthy if overeaten. So, it's best to eat pesto pasta in moderation.
How much pesto should I add to pasta?
Generally, the average serving of pasta is about 1/2 cup. Add 1/4 cup of pesto for every 1/2 cup of pasta.
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups Fresh Basil
1 cup Baby Spinach Leaves
4 cloves Garlic, chopped
2 Shallots, chopped
1/4 cup Toasted Pecans
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1/4 teaspoon Black Pepper
1/3 cup grated Parmesan Cheese
1/4 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
8 oz. Tagliatelle Pasta
1 tablespoon Butter
1 lb. Jumbo Shrimp, peeled, tail on, deveined
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1/4 teaspoon Black Pepper
1/2 teaspoon crushed Red Pepper Flakes
1 cup Frozen Green Peas, thawed
1/4 cup Fresh Basil Leaves
Instructions
Place all the pesto ingredients into a blender and pulse until the ingredients are minced.
Cook the tagliatelle in a pot of salted boiling water according to the package directions. Save 1 cup of pasta water, then drain the tagliatelle in a colander and set it aside.
Place the butter into a deep skillet and set it over medium-high heat.
Add the shrimp to the skillet in an even layer. Sprinkle them with salt and pepper and cook them for 1 minute.
Turn the shrimp over and cook them for another minute. Remove the shrimp from the skillet and place them onto a plate.
Add the pesto to the skillet along with the tagliatelle pasta and toss to coat it in the pesto.
Add the pasta water 1/4 cup at a time until the sauce reaches your desired consistency.
Add the crushed red pepper flakes, green peas, and shrimp and toss to combine. Cook the shrimp pesto pasta for 1 minute until the shrimp and peas are heated through.
Place the shrimp pesto pasta into a serving dish and garnish it with basil.
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