Easy Shrimp Pasta

This quick and easy recipe makes delicious shrimp and pasta in a creamy sauce flavored with red pesto, sundried tomato paste, and parmesan cheese.

📝 Ingredients

• 1 lb pasta
• 1 tablespoon olive oil (plus more if needed)
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 pound shrimp (raw, peeled, and deveined)
• 4 garlic cloves (minced)
• 2 tablespoons red pesto
• 1 tablespoon sun-dried tomato paste
• 1/4 teaspoon red chili pepper flakes
• 1 cup half-and-half (or whipping cream)
• 1/2 cup chicken stock (or shrimp stock)
• 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese (freshly grated)
• 1 teaspoon white vinegar
• 1/2 cup reserved cooked pasta water
• salt and freshly ground black pepper
• fresh basil (chopped (or fresh parsley))

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1Start a pot of salted water to cook the pasta in a large pot. Cook pasta until just underdone. Reserve about a cup of cooked pasta water, drain the pasta and set aside.
2. 2Meanwhile, melt the butter and olive oil in a large shallow pan over medium-high heat.
3. 3Add the shrimp to the pan in a single layer and allow to cook undisturbed for 1 minute. Flip, and cook until the shrimp are just cooked through (about 1 minute).
4. 4Remove the shrimp from the pan and add the garlic. Saute until fragrant (30 seconds to a minute).
5. 5Add the red pesto, sun-dried tomato paste, and chili flakes, stir to combine, and saute to release the flavors (about a minute).
6. 6Mix the in the cream, add the stock, the Parmesan cheese, vinegar, a pinch of salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Mix and bring to a simmer. If the sauce is too thick, add a small amount of reserved pasta water. Simmer for 3 to 5 minutes to bring the flavors together.
7. 7Add the pasta to the sauce, and simmer gently to allow the pasta to finish cooking in the sauce. If the sauce is too thick, add a small amount of reserved pasta water. Stir in the cooked shrimp, and mix in the basil.
8. 8Taste for seasoning and add more salt as needed before serving.