Pesto Shrimp Pasta
Hello there! I trust you had a fabulous weekend. My weekend was pretty good. Definitely went to a Mac and Cheese tasting with some of my friends, haha. Mac and Cheese tasting you say?? Believe me this was the best idea they could have ever had. Each person that came to the tasting brought their own Mac and Cheese dish. They were numbered and then we all tried the dishes and cast our votes. My Mac and Cheese came in 2nd place, woot woot! haha, I have to say it was pretty fun and all the different Mac and Cheeses?! Can we say food coma?
We had a blast chatting and eating up all the great food. I have to say this is MY kind of party…because this girl LOVES Mac and Cheese. Has been one of my go to comfort foods ever since I can remember. I mean doesn’t it just scream comfort to you? One thing my mom used to do for me when I was little was cut up hot dogs and put them in the Mac. Doesn’t get any better than that, haha…
Anyways, thank you very much to the hosts Meghan and Derek for having a very fun and creative Mac and Cheese tasting party. I had so much fun! π
Ready for the recipe I have for you today? You suuuuuuuuuuure?? Haha just kidding, just kidding. This was a dish that I made in a hurry one night and I just had to share it because it came out pretty delicious.
Ingredients for Shrimp Pasta:
- 4 ounces uncooked angel-hair whole wheat pasta
- 6 cups water
- 1 1/4 lbs peeled and deveined large shrimp
- 1 clove garlic
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/4 cup pesto, divided (You can find my Pesto Recipe here)
- 1 cup halved grape tomatoes
- grated Parmesan cheese for garnish
- Basil sprigs
Cook pasta according to package directions and drain. I always prefer my pasta on the slightly undercooked side. For those of you who are scared of the whole wheat pasta, please try it. It has taken a few different brands to find one that I really like texture wise, but it can be done!
In a pan cook garlic in olive oil until it is just slightly browned. Add in the grape tomatoes just until the skin starts to wilt. Bring your 6 cups of water to a boil, while the pasta is cooking. Add shrimp and cook for 2-3 minutes or until done. Drain the shrimp and toss with 2 tablespoons of pesto and tomatoes. Stir in pasta and additional pesto. Top with cheese and garnish with basil.
This pasta was so full of flavor with so few ingredients. It is a great summer pasta as well. It isn’t as heavy as a lot of the traditional pastas. Not to mention it is so quick and simple for those days where you don’t feel like making something that take a while. Simple = good …during the summer anyways
π
52 Comments
Jill Colonna
Mac and Cheese party? Sounds great fun. That plate of pasta and shrimp looks absolutely gorgeous. Just so happens made some pesto so you’ve helped us with dinner tonight! Love the basil and the parmesan…. ohh my favourite!
RavieNomNoms
It was a lot of fun, we definitely had a blast! Thank you Jill! I know there isn’t much better than basil and fresh parmesan is there?
Sandra's Easy Cooking
Raven this pasta looks and sounds AWESOME! What a wonderful recipe, tasty looking photos and something that I couldn’t be able to resist!! Have a great Monday!!
RavieNomNoms
Thank you Sandra! Hope you are having a great week so far!
popcorngirl12
Wow, a Mac and cheese party sounds awesome! I would love that! I may just have to do that sometime real soon! Your recipe also sounds and looks incredible! I’m hungry just looking at it! Thanks Raven!
RavieNomNoms
I would most definitely recommend it! I think people should have more out of the ordinary tasting parties often. Thanks so much for your compliments!
Ramona
This looks so healthy and light. I love how pretty all the colors look together. Great Job. Congrats on winning 2nd place for the Mac and Cheese party. I think it’s so cool that you participated in such a fun event. : )
RavieNomNoms
It definitely was a lighter pasta, which I really enjoy during the summer. Thanks so much Romona!
Tina@flourtrader
Cool idea-Mac and Cheese party. I do like this pasta dish, it looks light and full of flavor, good for a quick fix dinner when I am short on time. Great pics.
RavieNomNoms
I can’t take credit for the Mac and Cheese party idea…but I definitely can say I participated and loved it! haha…Thanks Tina! π
Becky
I just made some fresh pesto from the basil in my herb garden.Your Pesto Shrimp Pasta looks so good, and shrimp goes well with the pesto. This is what’s for dinner tonight, light and tasty! thanks for sharing!
RavieNomNoms
I think shrimp goes well with pesto as well. I think a lot of people think it is an unlikely pair, but I think they go awesome together. Thank you for visiting Becky!
Erin @ Dinners, Dishes and Desserts
This pesto dish looks great! Love anything that is no cooking in the summer!
RavieNomNoms
Thank you very much Erin! I am the same way, with little effort as possible in the summer…those are the kind of recipes I like! hehe
janet@fromcupcakestocaviar
Today (and yesterday) must be the day for noodles and meat. It seems to be a recurring theme lol. Ravie, you need to come to my house and make that for me π
RavieNomNoms
Haha I would love to Janet! I know I have seen a lot of noodles…isn’t that strange how all of a sudden it just seems that there are so many of the same types of ingredients in the food world? Must be the seasons… π
Island Vittles
A mac & cheese party is totally my idea of a good foodie time! It must have been tons of fun — and interesting to try everyone else’s versions…I’m making a shrimp pasta tonight — yours looks super tasty — I guess great minds really do think alike! Theresa
RavieNomNoms
Hi Theresa! Great minds DO think alike! I will have to run over to your blog and see if you posted your shrimp pasta too π
Luke
It’s great to see pasta recipes that use a whole grain.
RavieNomNoms
I really enjoy the whole grain, something that I would much rather have than just the normal pasta. Thanks for visiting Luke!
Tes
This looks so amazing. Fresh and vibrant π
RavieNomNoms
Thank you very much Tes!
Lilly
I love the shrips in the pasta! The pics made my mouth water. What a easy recipe, great when you don’t have much time on your hands.
RavieNomNoms
Thank you Lilly! The recipe was really easy…I tend to think that less is more with cooking. The simple ingredient dishes are sometimes the best ones π
Quay Po
I am a shrimp and pasta person. This dish is right up my alley.
RavieNomNoms
I am glad you enjoyed it! Definitely right up my alley too π
Peggy
Now a mac and cheese party is genius – I think I might have to arrange one very soon!
This pasta sounds fabulous too – and you’re right, simple = good – any time of year!
RavieNomNoms
Yes it was! I am so glad they thought up the idea…I thought it was so cute!
Thank you Peggy!
Adora's Box
I’m not a mac and cheese person. Don’t get me wrong. I love macaroni and cheese but I want much more in my pasta. Say pesto and shrimps. That would be great.
RavieNomNoms
Haha, there are some people who don’t like Mac and Cheese. I personally, can’t get enough of it…Thanks for coming to visit!! π
Elyse @The Cultural Dish
This dish looks beautiful! I love pesto pasta as it is, but all of the colors make the dish!
RavieNomNoms
Thank you very much Elyse! The colors did turn our rather pretty. I was concerned the camera wouldn’t pick it up, but I think it did an OK job!
5 Star Foodie
Mac & cheese tasting party sounds like so much fun! And your pesto shrimp pasta looks very pretty and sounds excellent. So, what brand of whole wheat pasta are you using?
RavieNomNoms
Hi Natasha! Personally, I go for the Nature’s Promise brand or Wild Harvest Organic, Ronzoni also has a Healthy Harvest brand that isn’t too shabby. I feel like people are very hesitant about whole wheat pasta and shouldn’t be. Much better than they think it is!
Carolyn
Mmm, pesto with shrimp, I bet it was delicious! Love the idea of the mac’n’cheese tasting too.
RavieNomNoms
Thank you Carolyn! I know isn’t it such a cute idea?
claire
I wish my husband liked shrimp because I love it!!
RavieNomNoms
Haha, yea well I would still make it even if my hubby didn’t like it hehe…would that make me a bad wife?? π
Chef Dennis
A mac and cheese tasting sounds like a lot of fun and a lot of good eats! Speaking of good eats, that shrimp and pasta dish looks so very very good!
Have a happy week my friend!
RavieNomNoms
Hi there Dennis!! Hope you are having a great week so far…
Thank you for your compliments about my pasta, always means so much coming from you Chef! π
thecompletecookbook
What an genius idea – a mac ‘n cheese party! Wish I had thought of it, however your shrimp pasta wins hands down – simplicity at it’s best. A give you a double thumbs up.
π Mandy
RavieNomNoms
Wooohooo! Double thumbs up! hehe π …thanks Mandy!
Cassie @ bake your day
This sounds so good. I have never combined seafood with pesto but it sounds great!
RavieNomNoms
Hi Cassie, oh you just must try it if you haven’t!! It is so great!
Megan
Mac & Cheese party? That sounds like one of the best get-togethers EVER. Pesto & shrimp is one of my favorite things, your pasta sounds absolutely divine in my humble opinion.
RavieNomNoms
Haha that is the way I felt about it Megan…Mac and Cheese + party + tasting it = WIN! Thank you very much for your kind words! π
Nava Krishnan
The prawns are cooked to perfection, the color simply reflects what you have done with the prawns.
RavieNomNoms
Thank you very much! They were tasty indeed!
kita
Man that pasta looks awesome. Shrimp and pesto…. simple and delicious.
And a Mac and Cheese tasting? That sounds awesome! I may have to steal that idea in the future. π
RavieNomNoms
Thank you Kita!! It was super delicious!
Somehow I knew that you would love the Mac and Cheese tasting…I had a hunch hehe π
Lin Ann
How fun and 2nd place winner – yay! Love your shrimp pasta dish and it does sound like it’s bursting with amazing flavor!
Dave at eRecipeCards
Delicious. Love the look! great post