Name: Shrimp Pesto Pasta with Asparagus Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Yield: 5
Ingredients: For Pesto:; 2 cups fresh basil leaves; ½ cup parsley leaves; ⅓ cup parmesan cheese; 2 tbsp Pine nuts; 1 garlic clove; salt and freshly ground black pepper; 6 tbsp olive oil; For Pasta:; 10 oz dry linguine pasta; 1 lb asparagus; 1 lb large shrimp; 1 tbsp olive oil; 1 tbsp lemon juice

shrimp pesto pasta with asparagus recipe

How To Make Asparagus Shrimp Pesto Pasta

Enjoy bites of plump shrimp, earthy pesto, and tender linguine with this shrimp pesto pasta that’s whipped up in just 35 minutes!

Preparation: 15 minutes

Cooking: 20 minutes

Total: 35 minutes

Serves:

Ingredients

For Pesto:

2cupsfresh basil leaves,packed
½cupparsley leaves,slightly packed, or more basil
⅓cupparmesan cheese,finely shredded
2tbsppine nuts,toasted, or untoasted
1garlic clove,peeled
salt and freshly ground black pepper
6tbspolive oil

For Pasta:

10ozdry linguine pasta
1lbasparagus,*
1lblarge shrimp,peeled, deveined
1tbspolive oil
1tbsplemon juice,fresh

Instructions

To a food processor, add the basil, parsley, parmesan, pine nuts, garlic, and season with salt and pepper to taste or use ½ teaspoon of salt and ¼ teaspoon of pepper.
Pulse until finely chopped, then with the processor running slowly, pour in olive oil and let run several seconds until it’s well combined and smooth.
Boil the pasta in salted water according to the directions on the package. Reserve ⅓ cup of the pasta water before draining.
Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium-high heat.
Add the shrimp, season with salt and pepper, and cook for about 3 to 4 minutes, tossing occasionally until opaque throughout and outsides are pink.
Pour the lemon juice over the shrimp, and toss.
Add the pasta and asparagus to the pan with the shrimp, and toss while seasoning with salt and pepper to taste.
Let it cool for 1 minute, and add the pesto.
Toss to coat. Thin with reserved pasta water, as desired.
Serve immediately, and enjoy!

Recipe Notes

* Tough ends trimmed and discarded, remaining diced into 2-inch pieces and steamed.
Feel free to replace the shrimp with chicken breasts diced into 1-inch cubes, then increase the cooking time by about 6 minutes (or until cooked through).
Alternatively, can sauté the asparagus it in a little olive oil before cooking the shrimp.
If asparagus isn’t in season, feel free to throw in fresh spinach or another green of choice.