Cilantro Lime Shrimp Pasta

A pasta dish with shrimp is hands down, without a doubt, one hundred percent my kids’ favorite meal.  They all four get SO EXCITED every time I tell them we’re having “shrimp with noodles” for dinner.  I get excited too because hello?  Doesn’t that look delish?!?!  The fresh cilantro and lime really make this dish POP!  I love a meal that is pretty enough to serve when company is over but easy enough to make on a busy weeknight.  Enjoy! xo

This recipe serves four to six.  We used smaller shrimp this time (the Argentinean red shrimp from Trader Joe’s), but you can use a larger shrimp if you like.

Shopping List
1 cup of cilantro leaves, plus a few for garnishing at the end
1 cup of parsley
1 cup of toasted almonds
1 cup of grated Parmesan cheese
3 garlic cloves
the zest and juice of one lime (about 2 to 3 tablespoons of each)
1 to 2 cups of Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO)
1 pound of pasta (we used a wide noodle), cooked to al dente and ready to eat
1 bag of frozen shrimp (I used a 16 oz bag of Trader Joe’s Argentinian Red Shrimp), I run mine under cold water to defrost a bit before using
salt and pepper

Begin by making your pesto: in the bowl of your food processor, place the first five ingredients and the lime juice (reserve the zest).  Cover and turn on to zip the ingredients around.  As they’re zipping around, slowly pour your EVOO down into the food processor and you’ll see your pesto begin to form.  Slowly add the EVOO.  You’ll keep pouring it in there until the pesto reaches a desired consistency.  Since this is for pasta, I prefer my pesto to be thinner rather than thick.  Stop the food processor when you think it’s ready to go.  Reserve the pesto.

In a very large skillet (or big pot) over medium-high heat, quickly cook up your shrimp in a drizzle of EVOO with a big pinch of both salt and pepper.  It will only take the shrimp about 3 or 4 minutes to cook.  Once they’re ready to go, reduce the heat and pour your pesto down in the skillet with the shrimp and toss everything together.  Next, add your cooked pasta to the skillet and make sure everything gets coated with pesto.  Let everything heat up together on top of the stove about five minutes.  Then remove from heat, plate your pasta, garnish with just a touch more chopped cilantro and your lime zest.

Mmmmm…dinner is going to be yummy tonight!