Description
This Easy & Creamy Pistachio Pesto Pasta with Shrimp is a vibrant and flavorful dish that combines the nutty richness of pistachios with fresh basil and garlic, tossed with perfectly cooked pasta and succulent shrimp. Ready in just 25 minutes, it’s a delightful meal that balances creamy pesto with the lightness of shrimp, perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or a casual gathering.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 12 oz pasta (linguine, spaghetti, or penne)
Shrimp
- 1 lb shrimp (peeled and deveined)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Olive oil, for cooking
Pistachio Pesto
- 1 cup shelled unsalted pistachios
- 2 cups fresh basil leaves
- 2 cloves garlic
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese (plus more for serving)
- ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil (plus more for cooking)
- ½ tsp salt (or to taste)
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Additional
- ½ cup reserved pasta water (as needed)
- 1 tbsp lemon juice (optional)
- Red pepper flakes (for garnish, optional)
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water, then drain and set aside.
- Prepare the pesto base: While the pasta cooks, add pistachios, basil, garlic, and Parmesan cheese to a food processor. Pulse until finely chopped.
- Make the pesto sauce: With the processor running, slowly drizzle in the olive oil until the pesto is smooth and creamy. Season with salt and black pepper to taste. Set aside.
- Cook the shrimp: Heat a drizzle of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season the shrimp with salt and pepper.
- Sauté the shrimp: Add shrimp to the skillet and cook for 1–2 minutes per side, just until pink and opaque. Remove from heat.
- Toss pasta with pesto: Add the cooked pasta to a large bowl or back into the pot. Toss with pistachio pesto, adding reserved pasta water a little at a time until the sauce coats the pasta evenly.
- Combine shrimp and pasta: Gently fold in the cooked shrimp. Add lemon juice if using.
- Serve: Serve immediately, topped with extra Parmesan cheese and red pepper flakes if desired.
Notes
- Reserve some pasta water to adjust the pesto sauce consistency for a creamy coating.
- Pistachios can be lightly toasted for a deeper flavor before blending, but this is optional.
- Use fresh shrimp for best texture and flavor; frozen shrimp can be substituted but should be thawed properly.
- Lemon juice adds a bright freshness but can be omitted if preferred.
- Adjust salt and pepper according to your taste preference.
- Serve with extra Parmesan and red pepper flakes to enhance flavor and add a touch of heat.
