Shrimp Pesto Pasta

Ingredients

12 ounces DeLallo Spaghetti or long pasta of choice

one 6-ounce jar DeLallo Simply Pesto® Traditional Basil Sauce

½ lemon, juiced

Quick Garlic Shrimp

1 pound extra large shrimp (U/26-30), peeled and deveined

2 tablespoons DeLallo Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1 shallot, finely diced

½ medium bell pepper, finely diced

4 cloves garlic, finely chopped or grated

Optional: up to 1 tablespoon DeLallo Chopped Calabrian Peppers

½ lemon, juiced

For serving, as desired: chopped parsley or basil, DeLallo Grated Parmesan, crushed red pepper flakes, etc.

Directions

Boil the pasta: Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Cook to al dente according to package directions, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. Once cooked, carefully dip a liquid measuring cup into the pot to reserve about 1 cup of the starchy pasta water, and set aside. Carefully drain the pasta.

Prepare the shrimp: Meanwhile, as the pasta boils, prep the shrimp. If present, remove the tails from the shrimp. Slice each shrimp into 4-5 small bite-sized pieces.

Cook the shrimp: Add the olive oil to a nonstick pan over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot and shimmering, add the shallot and bell pepper. Season with ½ teaspoon kosher salt and ground black pepper as desired. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and fragrant, 4-5 minutes. Add the shrimp, garlic, and chili peppers (if using) to the skillet. Season with 1 teaspoon kosher salt and ground black pepper as desired. Stir to combine well. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the shrimp is opaque and cooked through, 2-3 minutes longer. Remove from the heat and ½ lemon juice over top. Set aside.

Assemble the pesto pasta: Transfer the drained pasta back into the pot used to boil it. Add the pesto, ½ lemon juice, and toss to combine well – the pesto sauce should evenly coat the pasta. Add in some of the reserved pasta water if the sauce needs to loosen up a little. Cook 1-2 minutes longer, allowing the pasta to meld with the sauce, then remove from the heat.

Serve: Portion the pesto pasta into individual bowls, topping with the prepared shrimp. Finish with a sprinkling of chopped fresh herbs or grated parmesan as desired. Serve immediately. Enjoy!