Easy Pesto Shrimp

Shrimp pesto is a dinner win! Salted basil pesto is a natural pairing with succulent shrimp; Serve it with pasta or rice for an easy dinner idea.

Here’s an idea that’s popular for an easy weeknight dinner: Prawns with pesto! Turns out, this bright green garlic sauce goes perfectly with these succulent shellfish. The two flavors go hand-in-hand, as do famous duos like tomato and basil. Alex and I were inspired to create this recipe by the bushy basil plant in our garden. There’s no better use for a big hunk of pesto than a pile of succulent, succulent shrimp.

How to make shrimp with pesto… in 5 minutes!

Yes, this is one of those easy 5 minute recipes that will save busy weeknights. At home, we eat seafood only occasionally (we eat mostly plant-based recipes). But every now and then we eat healthy seafood like shrimp or salmon. What we like about shrimp: They’re cooked Then fast! Just a few minutes in a pan and you have dinner. Here are the basic steps for preparing pesto shrimp:

• Dry the shrimp. This is important before you start cooking so there isn’t too much extra liquid.
• Sear the shrimp for 1 to 2 minutes on each side. Heat the olive oil, then sauté the shrimp in it and cook for 1 to 2 minutes on each side. Just before they are cooked…
• Add pesto in just 30 seconds! This gives it a nice shiny green color and coats the shrimp in a delicious sauce. Stop cooking or the pesto will turn black and brown.

Make with homemade or best pesto

The most important thing to know about his Shrimp Pesto Recipe: Use the best quality pesto! The best is of course homemade! Below we have listed some of our favorite options. But we understand: it needs fresh basil, which is not always available. If you can’t make homemade pesto, use the best quality brand you can find. Quality varies greatly from brand to brand, so you may need to experiment a little before finding your favorite pesto.

If you’re able to make homemade pesto, here are some recipes we recommend:

• Best Basil Pesto The Norm! This is our favorite toasted pine nut and parmesan cheese pesto recipe.
• Cashew Pesto You can make pesto with any kind of nut! Cashews are cheaper and make a great pesto.
• Walnut Pesto Walnuts are also great for making pesto.
• Dairy Free Pesto Don’t want parmesan in your pesto? Here is the answer.

feed shrimp

A medium sized shrimp is only 7 calories, so it’s a great lean protein for a healthy dinner! Shrimp are part of a healthy Mediterranean diet. (Read more about shrimp nutrition here.) The calories and protein of shrimp are as follows:

• 1 medium shrimp = 7 calories, 1 gram of protein
• 1 jumbo shrimp = 14 calories, 1.5 grams of protein

Think ahead: Make sure you thaw frozen shrimp

Should you use fresh or frozen shrimp for this shrimp pesto recipe? You can use both! It turns out that frozen shrimp can be even fresher than when you buy them fresh at the grocery store. If frozen immediately, it can be extremely fresh. In any case, try to find wild-caught shrimp: this is usually a sustainable option. If you’re using frozen, be sure to thaw it before preparing the recipe. Here’s what to do:

• The previous day: If you plan ahead, simply place the frozen shrimp in the fridge overnight.
• day of: Place the shrimp in a large bowl of very cold water for 15 minutes. Stir every 5 minutes to break up clumps that freeze together. The shrimp should defrost in about 15-20 minutes.

Make shrimp pesto a quick dinner idea

Of course, this pesto shrimp isn’t a complete 5-minute meal. But it brings you that much closer to dinner! Here’s what we recommend serving to round off a meal:

This Shrimp Pesto Recipe is…

Dairy-free, gluten-free and pescetarian.

Easier shrimp recipes

There are many more easy shrimp recipes that make for a quick dinner! Here are some of our favorites to try: