Vibrant Pesto Shrimp Spaghetti
This vibrant recipe brings together juicy shrimp, al dente spaghetti, and fresh pesto, brightened by sweet cherry tomatoes and a hint of garlic. It's a quick and flavorful dish perfect for a weeknight meal.
Equipment
- Large pot
- Large skillet
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- Fresh Shrimp peeled and deveined
- Spaghetti or your favorite pasta
- High-Quality Pesto homemade or store-bought
- Garlic
- Cherry or Grape Tomatoes
- Olive Oil
- Parmesan Cheese for grating
- Fresh Basil for garnish
- Red Pepper Flakes optional, for a kick
- Salt
- Black Pepper
Instructions
Cooking Steps
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil for the spaghetti.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet and sauté minced garlic until fragrant.
- Add cleaned shrimp to the skillet and cook until they turn pink and opaque, being careful not to overcook.
- Add spaghetti to the boiling water and cook until al dente; reserve some pasta water before draining.
- Introduce cherry tomatoes to the skillet with the shrimp and cook briefly until they begin to soften.
- Transfer the drained spaghetti directly into the skillet with the shrimp and tomatoes, then stir in the pesto.
- If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water to achieve a silky consistency.
- Season the dish with salt, pepper, and optional red pepper flakes, then gently toss to combine and serve immediately.
Notes
For extra flavor, toast the red pepper flakes with the garlic. Save a generous amount of pasta water as it's key for a silky sauce.