Shrimp Pesto Pasta

              I believe I have always been a fan of shrimp. From my earliest days that I can recall. I think it started out as a family joke. I was the smallest in the family, not the youngest, by far. I was just lucky enough to be petite at one point in my life. How I long for those days now. LOL! Now, as an adult, I absolutely love pesto, and I love garlic shrimp, shrimp of all kinds. Then throw some pasta my way and yep, I am set for a long time.

              You can use any type of pasta you would like with this dish. I put linguini in the recipe, only because I like the combination.       You could easily use Angel hair pasta, Cheese ravioli or any type that you like. What I suggest is that you use whatever is inside of your cupboards.

Do not make a special trip to get a certain pasta. Pesto is one of those sauces that has an acquired taste, for the most part. It truly is delicious! It is made with Basil leaves, garlic, hard cheese all blended together with a good olive oil. Pine nuts are most often added when blending also.

I leave the nuts out when I make my own. Did you know that Pesto is considered to have originated back in the Roman era? Can you imagine a sauce that delicious that we keep making it to this day?

Frequently Asked Questions:

            Can I use store bought pesto or should I make it?

You do not have to use store bought, I know that home made tastes better. It always will. I am all about saving time however, I am the one that will actually pick pesto up and keep it at home.

            How do I store this dish?

Keep it covered tightly or place it in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

            Can I freeze this dish?

Yes, you can store it in an airtight container and then into the freezer for up to 1 month.

What do you need to make Shrimp Pesto Pasta

            1 pound of shrimp, tail on, peeled and deveined

            10 ounces linguini pasta, uncooked

            ¾ cup of fresh basil pesto, your choice store bought or homemade.

            1 cup cherry tomatoes, sliced in half

            1 tsp Italian seasoning

            ¼ cup of Parmesan cheese, grated

            1 tbsp Olive Oil

            Salt and Pepper to taste

            1 tbsp lemon juice

            1 tbsp garlic, minced

How to make Shrimp Pesto Pasta

FIRST STEP:

Cook the pasta according to package directions

Heat 1 tbsp Olive oil in a skillet

SECOND STEP:

Allow the garlic to heat up in the Olive oil

Add the lemon juice into the skillet

THIRD STEP:

Place the shrimp into the skillet and sprinkle with Italian Seasoning

a)

b)

Cook the shrimp until they are light pink, do not overcook them

FOURTH STEP:

Mix the cooked linguine into the skillet with the shrimp

Add in the Pesto Sauce of your choice

FIFTH STEP:

Then add the cherry tomato halves

a)

b)

Toss all together with the grated Parmesan cheese

Garnish with chopped fresh parsley.

Enjoy!

YUM!