Indulge in the rich flavors of shrimp, orzo, and homemade pesto with this delicious recipe. This dish combines perfectly cooked shrimp with tender orzo pasta and a flavorful pesto sauce. It's a quick and easy meal that will impress your family and guests. With a preparing time of just 30 minutes, it's perfect for busy weeknights or lazy weekends. Try this Shrimp Orzo Pesto recipe today and savor the taste of a homemade Italian-inspired dish!
Ingredients
- 1 pound fresh or frozen shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 8 ounces orzo pasta
- 1 cup fresh basil leaves
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup pine nuts
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Directions
- Cook the orzo pasta according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
- In a food processor, combine the basil leaves, garlic, pine nuts, and Parmesan cheese. Pulse until finely chopped.
- Slowly add the olive oil while the food processor is running until a smooth pesto sauce is formed.
- Season the shrimp with salt and pepper.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add a drizzle of olive oil.
- Add the shrimp to the skillet and cook for 2-3 minutes per side, or until pink and cooked through.
- Remove the shrimp from the skillet and set aside.
- In the same skillet, add the cooked orzo pasta and pesto sauce. Stir to combine and heat through.
- Add the cooked shrimp back to the skillet and toss to coat in the pesto sauce.
- Serve the Shrimp Orzo Pesto hot, topped with additional grated Parmesan cheese if desired.
