Garlic Shrimp with Chilli Pesto Pasta is a quick and easy dinner that will be refreshing to eat. Tender pasta, homemade pesto, and garlic shrimp in every bite. If you want a new shrimp recipe, give this shrimp pesto pasta recipe a try today.
Shrimp is such an easy and quick cooking dinner option. What makes this shrimp and pasta recipe incredible is it is stunning in presentation, so you can serve it up to guests for that wow factor.
Garlic Shrimp with Chili Pesto Pasta
Hi All, it’s Nicky here from Kitchen Sanctuary.
We’ve had a beautifully warm week over in the UK. The flowers are blooming, the BBQs have started to make an appearance, and we’ve already discovered a small wasp’s nest in the kid’s playhouse!
All the lush greenery outside made me want to create something bright and fresh for you today. The result is this vibrant pasta dish, packed with a really flavourful green chili pesto, some juicy garlic & black pepper shrimp and finished off with lots of baby spinach, watercress and a good squeeze of lemon juice.
What is Pesto Used for
Pesto is great for stirring in with pasta like this recipe, being a filling for stuffed chicken or pork, and so much more. Pesto is so versatile, you can use it in dips, main dishes, and of course the pairing with pasta. Traditional pesto like this recipe is filled with basil, olive oil, pine nuts, and more. It is very earthy, vibrant, and rich.
Can I Use Store-Bought Pesto for Shrimp Pesto Pasta
Of course. You are welcome to buy pesto instead of making your own. I love homemade pesto, I find it offers a more fresh flavor, and it is really simple to make if you own a food processor or blender.
What is the Difference Between Prawns and Shrimp?
While prawns and shrimp are different, they are interchangeable when it comes to cooking. Prawns have claws on three legs, and shrimp have claws on two out of the five legs. You will also find their appearance looks a bit different.
Do You Cook Shrimp With Tails On or Off for Garlic Shrimp with Chilli Pesto Pasta
I tend to cook with tails off, so you don’t have the mess of pulling them off while you try to eat them with the pasta. But, if you want the presentation value, feel free to leave the shrimp tails on.
How to Devein Shrimp
First, you want to make sure you peel your shrimp. You can hold the feet, and back of shrimp and twist to pull it away. Once the shell is off, you can work on deveining. Grab a paring knife and look for the black line running up the back of the shrimp. Make a small slit to access the vein. Then run the knife down the back. Use a toothpick or even bamboo skewer and place under the vein, and lift to pull it out.
Some shrimp comes deveined, which is always nice, so make sure to check what you bought. After you devein make sure to rinse your shrimp in cold water to cleanse them.
How to Make Garlic Shrimp with Chilli Pesto Pasta
Start by cooking your spaghetti as directed on the box. While your pasta is cooking, you want to work on your pesto. Add in your ingredients into the food processor or blender, and follow the directions below on creating a creamy and tasty pesto.
Then when the pasta is close to done, take a pan and heat on high with a drizzle of oil. Cook the shrimp with some pepper, and cook each side until they begin to turn pink. Then turn your heat down and add in the garlic and finish cooking the shrimp.
Drain pasta and reserve a bit of the water, and add in 2 tablespoons of water, pasta, and pesto into the pan with shrimp. Toss and then turn the heat off. Serve over a bed of spinach and watercress.
Searching for More Seafood Recipes
Is Garlic Shrimp with Pesto Pasta Good for Meal Prepping
Yes! I have whipped up a batch of this and then used it to prep lunches for the week. I actually loved the flavors cold, just as much as I did hot. Just prep with the spinach on top of the cooled down pasta and shrimp so it won’t wilt the spinach. Or put spinach and watercress in a separate container.
You might also like this Shrimp Chowder.
Are you a shrimp fan?
Nicky lives in Cheshire in the UK with her husband and two children. She blogs over at Kitchen Sanctuary where she creates family-friendly recipes and mouth-watering photos. Connect with Nicky on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter.
Garlic Shrimp with Chilli Pesto Pasta
Skip the jarred spaghetti sauce! Homemade pesto is the best complement for these sweet and spicy shrimp on a bed of noodles and baby spinach.
Ingredients
- 7oz/200g dried spaghetti
Chilli Pesto
- 1 cup of basil (packed)
- 1 clove of garlic, peeled and roughly chopped
- 1/4 cup of pine nuts
- 1 green chilli, chopped (seeds removed first if you don’t like it too hot)
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1/3 cup grated parmesan
- good pinch of salt and pepper
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
Shrimp
- 1 tbsp oil
- 16 raw shrimp/king prawns – deveined and heads/tails removed
- Large pinch ground black pepper
- 1 large clove garlic, peeled and minced
To Serve
- 1 cup of fresh baby spinach (packed)
- 1 cup of watercress (packed)
- Wedges of lemon
Instructions
- Boil some water and then put the spaghetti on to cook as per the pack instructions.
- Whilst the spaghetti is cooking, place the basil, garlic, pine nuts, chilli and half of the oil into a mini chopper. Pulse the chopper a few times until everything is combined. Add in the rest of the oil, parmesan, a pinch of salt and pepper and the lemon juice and give another pulse. Have a taste and add a little more salt/pepper/lemon juice if needed. Put to one side.
- When your pasta is almost ready, heat the oil in a large frying pan on a high heat. Sprinkle your shrimp with a good pinch of ground black pepper and then place in the frying pan. Cook for 1-2 minutes each side until they just start to turn pink, then turn the heat down and add the garlic. Cook, whilst stirring for 1 minute.
- Drain the pasta, but reserve a little bit of the pasta water (this will help the pesto stick to the spaghetti). Place the spaghetti, pesto and 2 tbsp of the reserved pasta water in the frying pan with the shrimp. Toss everything together, then turn off the heat. Add in the spinach and watercress and toss to coat in the pesto, then divide between 2 bowls. Garnish with lemon and serve.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 2 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 983Total Fat: 69gSaturated Fat: 13gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 47gCholesterol: 130mgSodium: 1647mgCarbohydrates: 57gFiber: 5gSugar: 6gProtein: 39g
Jody @easypeasymom says
Yum, this looks so delicious! It is definitely going on my list of recipes to try! Pinning, thanks for sharing!
Visiting from the Share It link party
brandy says
I LOVE shrimp and finding new ways to serve it. This looks divine! Visiting from the Link Party Palooza, have a great weekend!
Elizabeth Matthiesen says
You had me when I read garlic shrimp, I can almost feel them melting in my mouth. I’m not into pesto though so I’d have to make an alfredo sauce to go with that. 🙂
Lisa @ Fun Money Mom says
This looks delicious and I love that it’s healthy too! I’ll have to try your recipe!
xoxo
Lisa
Miz Helen says
I love the Pesto flavor for this delicious Shrimp dish. Thanks so much for sharing your post with Full Plate Thursday. Hope you are having a great day and come back soon!
Miz Helen
Melinda L. says
Love pesto! It’s so amazing and tastes delicious with just about everything.
G K says
This sounds perfect! I love the addition of green chilies.