Pesto Shrimp

Pesto shrimp are healthy, tasty, and very easy to make. So easy in fact, it’s an ideal recipe for a weeknight dinner.

I never actually planned to make pesto shrimp.

It all started when I bought fresh basil to make eggplant caprese. The eggplant caprese was amazing but required very little of the basil. And since basil doesn’t keep well in the fridge, I decided to make some pesto sauce.

So now I had half a cup of pesto sauce in the fridge. But since the husband and I have been eating a low-carb diet and limiting grains, using the pesto as a pasta sauce was not an option.

So I searched online (the search “what to do with pesto sauce” returns a surprisingly long list of results), and one of the suggestions was “serve with grilled fish.”

Aha! I thought. If pesto goes well with fish, and I happen to have some frozen shrimp in the freezer (as I always do), why not coat the shrimp in the sauce and broil them? How bad can it be?

Well, it wasn’t bad at all! In fact, these shrimp were so good that all four members of our family have immediately declared this dish as “blog-worthy” and asked that I add it to our rotating dinner repertoire.

The ingredients you’ll need

You’ll only need a few simple ingredients to make this tasty recipe. The exact measurements are included in the recipe card below. Here’s an overview of what you’ll need:

1. Fresh basil
2. Minced garlic
3. Pine nuts
4. Kosher salt and black pepper
5. Extra-virgin olive oil
6. Grated Parmesan
7. Large shrimp, peeled and deveined

How to make pesto shrimp

It’s so easy! Scroll down to the recipe card for the detailed instructions. The basic steps:

1. You simply toss some raw shrimp in pesto sauce.
2. Thread them on skewers.
3. Then broil for 4 minutes. That’s it! Dinner is ready!

Is this a healthy recipe?

I believe it is. Basil is very healthy and so is olive oil. If you use store-bought persto, try to make sure it is made with olive oil and not with refined, bleached, and deodorized oils (RBD oils).

Despite some possible issues, I also believe that shrimp is healthy. It is high in protein, low in calories, and provides important key nutrients. But if at all possible, it’s best to buy sustainable, wild-caught, local shrimp.

What to serve with pesto shrimp

I like to serve this dish with tomato salad. It makes for a pretty, colorful meal.

Sometimes I make microwave spaghetti squash, toss it with some olive oil, salt, and garlic powder, and serve the shrimp on top.

What about leftovers?

You can keep the leftovers in the fridge, in a shallow airtight container, for up to 3 days. Reheat them gently, in the microwave on 50% power. They’re also good as a salad topping the next day.

More shrimp recipes that you might like

If you like shrimp and feel like trying more shrimp recipes, give this shrimp scampi recipe a try – it’s so easy to make and so very flavorful. 

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4.97 from 29 votes

Pesto Shrimp

Pesto shrimp are healthy, tasty, and very easy to make. So easy in fact, it’s an ideal recipe for a weeknight dinner.

Prep Time30 mins

Cook Time4 mins

Total Time34 mins

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: shrimp

Servings: 4 servings

Calories: 360kcal

Author: Vered DeLeeuw

INGREDIENTS

Pesto sauce:

• 1 cup packed fresh basil leaves, washed and dried (40 grams)
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 2 tablespoons pine nuts
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
• ¼ cup grated Parmesan

Shrimp:

• 24 oz large shrimp, peeled and deveined

INSTRUCTIONS

• Soak 8 wooden skewers in water for 30 minutes. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil.
• Prepare the pesto sauce: place the basil, garlic and pine nuts in food processor. Process a few seconds, until coarsely chopped. Add the salt, pepper and oil and process until smooth and fully combined, about 30 seconds, stopping to scrape the sides with a spatula if necessary. Transfer to a large bowl and mix in the cheese.
• If using frozen shrimp, place them in a colander and rinse under running water for a few minutes to defrost, then dry on paper towels.
• Add the shrimp to the bowl and toss with the pesto sauce until well coated.
• Thread the pesto-coated shrimp on the skewers. Spoon any remaining sauce on top.
• Arrange the skewers in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet.
• Heat the broiler on high and position an oven rack 4 inches below the flame.
• Broil the shrimp until cooked through and opaque, about 4 minutes.

NUTRITION INFO Nutrition info is approximate. It is calculated using the SparkPeople.com recipe calculator, and the carb count excludes sugar alcohols. Please read the disclaimers in our Terms of Use carefully before using any of our recipes. Recommended and linked products are not guaranteed to be gluten-free. Please verify they are before using.

Nutrition Facts

Pesto Shrimp

Amount Per Serving

Calories 360 Calories from Fat 189

% Daily Value*

Fat 21g32%

Sodium 508mg22%

Carbohydrates 3g1%

Protein 38g76%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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