Description
This Easy & Creamy Pistachio Pesto Pasta with Shrimp is a delightful and quick dish combining the nutty flavor of pistachios with fresh basil pesto, tender shrimp, and perfectly cooked pasta. Ready in just 25 minutes, this recipe is perfect for a flavorful weeknight dinner that feels both indulgent and fresh.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 12 oz pasta (linguine, spaghetti, or penne)
Shrimp
- 1 lb shrimp (peeled and deveined)
- Salt and pepper, for seasoning
- 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 pistachio pesto. While the pasta cooks, add pistachios, basil, garlic, and Parmesan cheese to a food processor. Pulse until finely chopped. 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. 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 finish the dish. Gently fold in the cooked shrimp. Add lemon juice if using. Serve immediately, topped with extra Parmesan cheese and red pepper flakes if desired.
Notes
- Use any pasta shape you prefer such as linguine, spaghetti, or penne.
- Reserve the pasta water to help loosen the pesto sauce and help it evenly coat the pasta.
- Lemon juice is optional but adds a bright, fresh flavor that balances the richness of the pesto.
- Red pepper flakes give a nice hint of heat but can be omitted for a milder dish.
- For a nut-free pesto alternative, try substituting pistachios with pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds.
- Make sure shrimp is cooked just until pink and opaque to keep it tender and juicy.
