Description
Mediterranean-inspired pesto shrimp mushroom pasta brings coastal flavors to your dinner table with elegant simplicity. Creamy herb-infused sauce mingles with succulent shrimp and earthy mushrooms, creating a delightful plate sure to impress.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 pound (450g) large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 8 ounces (225g) cremini or button mushrooms, sliced
- 8 ounces (225g) pasta (linguine, spaghetti, or penne)
Sauce and Seasoning Ingredients:
- ½ cup (120ml) heavy cream or half-and-half
- ⅓ cup (80ml) pesto (store-bought or homemade)
- ¼ cup (25g) grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt (for boiling water)
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Extra Parmesan cheese
Garnish and Optional Ingredients:
- None specified
Instructions
- Initiate pasta preparation by bringing a generously salted water pot to a rolling boil. Submerge pasta and cook until perfectly tender, maintaining a slight bite. Extract and preserve a modest portion of starchy cooking liquid before straining.
- Elevate shrimp with a harmonious blend of smoked paprika, sea salt, and cracked pepper. Glide olive oil across a spacious skillet over moderate heat. Sear shrimp swiftly, transforming them from translucent to blush-pink, approximately 2 minutes per side. Transfer to a temporary resting plate.
- Leverage the identical skillet, introducing another drizzle of olive oil. Introduce mushroom slices, allowing them to caramelize and develop a golden exterior through 5-6 minutes of careful sautéing. Incorporate minced garlic, releasing its aromatic essence for a brief moment.
- Reduce flame intensity, gently folding heavy cream, verdant pesto, and nutty Parmesan into the mushroom landscape. Optional red pepper flakes can provide a subtle warmth. Allow the mixture to delicately thicken through gentle simmering.
- Cascade cooked pasta into the creamy constellation, ensuring each strand becomes luxuriously coated. Should the sauce appear overly dense, introduce reserved pasta water to achieve ideal consistency. Reintroduce the seasoned shrimp, delicately integrating them into the dish.
- Artfully distribute the pasta across serving plates. Embellish with freshly torn basil leaves and an additional sprinkle of Parmesan, then present immediately for optimal flavor and temperature.
Notes
- Customize spice levels by adjusting red pepper flakes or using mild smoked paprika for sensitive palates.
- Choose quick-cooking shrimp for faster preparation, preferably medium-sized with consistent thickness.
- Select firm mushrooms like cremini or button varieties that maintain texture during high-heat cooking.
- Swap heavy cream with coconut milk for dairy-free version or Greek yogurt for lighter protein-packed alternative.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 570
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 52g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 220mg