Description
Creamy pesto shrimp mushroom pasta delivers a Mediterranean-inspired comfort dish with rich, herbal notes. Garlic, basil, and parmesan create a luxurious sauce that welcomes you to savor each delectable bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (450g) shrimp, large, peeled and deveined
- 8 oz (225g) mushrooms, cremini or button, sliced
- 8 oz (225g) pasta, linguine, spaghetti, or penne
- ½ cup (120 ml) cream, heavy or half-and-half
- ⅓ cup (80 ml) pesto, store-bought or homemade
- ¼ cup (25 g) cheese, Parmesan, grated
- 2 tbsps basil, fresh, chopped
- 2 tbsps olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ tsp paprika, smoked
- ½ tsp salt, for boiling water
- ¼ tsp pepper flakes, red (optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Parmesan cheese, extra
Instructions
- Pasta Preparation: Boil generously salted water and cook pasta until al dente. Reserve a small amount of starchy cooking liquid before draining.
- Shrimp Seasoning and Searing: Season shrimp with smoked paprika, sea salt, and cracked pepper. Heat olive oil in a skillet and quickly cook shrimp until pink, approximately 2 minutes per side. Set aside.
- Mushroom and Garlic Sauté: In the same skillet, sauté mushroom slices until golden and caramelized. Add minced garlic and briefly cook to release its aromatic properties.
- Sauce Creation: Reduce heat and incorporate heavy cream, pesto, and Parmesan cheese. Optionally add red pepper flakes for subtle heat. Simmer gently until the sauce thickens.
- Pasta Integration: Combine cooked pasta with the creamy sauce, ensuring thorough coating. If needed, add reserved pasta water to achieve desired consistency. Gently fold in the seared shrimp.
- Serving Presentation: Plate the pasta, garnish with freshly torn basil leaves and an additional Parmesan sprinkle. Serve immediately while hot and flavorful.
Notes
- Preserve Pasta Texture: Cook pasta just until al dente to maintain a slight firmness, preventing mushiness and ensuring an authentic Italian dining experience.
- Sear Shrimp Perfectly: Cook shrimp quickly over moderate heat, watching for the color transformation from translucent to pink, avoiding overcooking which leads to rubbery texture.
- Mushroom Caramelization Technique: Allow mushrooms to develop a golden exterior by avoiding overcrowding the skillet, enabling proper browning and concentrating their rich, earthy flavors.
- Sauce Consistency Control: Use reserved pasta water strategically to adjust sauce thickness, creating a silky, smooth coating that clings beautifully to pasta without becoming too runny or thick.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 200mg