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Store-bought pesto tossed with pasta, peas and pine nuts are perfect on their own. Top with grilled shrimp and this is suitable for entertaining those last-minute dinner guests!
Table of Contents
I learned how to cook by reading cookbooks and magazines. Basically, my fancier fare was all instructed by either Ina Garten or Martha Stewart. It really depended on my mood. I wanted to be the queen of easy entertaining in my early 20’s. It just seemed so glamorous and exciting. The problem back them was….my friends were more of the “hey, let’s go clubbing at 10:00 PM on a Saturday night” and I was more “Hey, let’s stuff our faces until we slip into a food coma at 10:00 PM on a Saturday night.” Ina’s “Parties” book really saved the day when I did end up feeding my club hopping friends because all the recipes are super easy and impressive. Like Pesto Pasta with Peas…..and grilled shrimp!
Ina’s recipe doesn’t call for grilled shrimp but I added it because it makes the dish seem more grown up….and less likely that you would be serving this to your kids on a weeknight. Even though it’s so easy it’s definitely doable on a weeknight using this easy pesto recipe. Especially if you cheat and use store-bought pesto. Which I did. Dinner on the table in 15 minutes. FLAT!
Pesto Pasta with Peas and Grilled Shrimp
Ingredients
- 1 pound small shell pasta
- 1 1/2 cups commercial Basil Pesto
- 1 1/2 cups frozen peas, thawed
- 1/3 cup toasted pine nuts
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 3/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
- 3/4 pound medium shrimp
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Cook the pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water until al dente, approximately 8-10 minutes. Drain and toss with the pesto in a large bowl. Cool to room temperature.
- Brush the shrimp with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill the shrimp until bright pink and cooked through, approximately 3-5 minutes.
- Toss the pasta with the peas, pine nuts, salt and pepper. Top with grilled shrimp and serve immediately.
- This dish can be served warm or at room temperature.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I love peas, pesto and shrimp! This is such an easy, delicious meal! I need to pick up that book by Ina–I love her recipes anyway and now that I have a nice space to entertain, I think it will encourage me to have more people over! So glad you shared this!