Bucatini With Pesto and Shrimp

  4.0 – 3 reviews  • Shellfish Recipes
Level: Easy
Total: 40 min
Prep: 20 min
Cook: 20 min
Yield: 6 servings

Ingredients

  1. Kosher salt
  2. 2 cups drained canned San Marzano tomatoes (about 8 tomatoes)
  3. 2 cups packed fresh basil leaves
  4. 2 cups packed fresh mint leaves
  5. 1/2 cup sliced almonds, lightly toasted
  6. 2 cloves garlic
  7. 1 teaspoon finely grated orange zest
  8. 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for frying and drizzling
  9. 1 pound bucatini or spaghetti
  10. 1/2 cup instant flour (such as Wondra)
  11. 1 pound extra-large shrimp, peeled and deveined, halved lengthwise
  12. 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Meanwhile, make the pesto: Process the tomatoes, basil, mint, almonds, garlic, orange zest and 1 teaspoon salt in a food processor until combined. With the motor running, gradually add 1/3 cup olive oil in a steady stream and blend to make a coarse pesto, scraping down the sides of the processor as needed. Transfer the pesto to a large bowl; do not wash out the processor.
  2. Add the bucatini to the boiling water and cook as the label directs. Meanwhile, heat about 1/4 inch of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Put the flour in a shallow dish. Season the shrimp with 1/2 teaspoon salt, then dredge in the flour. Fry the shrimp in 2 batches until golden and crisp, about 2 minutes per side. Drain on paper towels and sprinkle with salt.
  3. Remove the pasta with tongs (reserve the cooking water) and transfer to the bowl with the pesto; toss to coat. If the pasta seems dry, rinse the food processor with 1/2 cup of the reserved cooking water and add to the pasta, a little at a time. Season with salt. Add the cheese and toss. Drizzle the pasta with olive oil and divide among bowls; top with the shrimp.

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 1 of 6 servings
Calories 628
Total Fat 21 g
Saturated Fat 4 g
Carbohydrates 76 g
Dietary Fiber 8 g
Sugar 7 g
Protein 35 g
Cholesterol 130 mg
Sodium 924 mg

Reviews

Natalie Berry
I did not have the instant flour, so I went without. This dish rocked and it was super simple! Could have easily been in the Weeknight Dinner section. Next time: I will try sun-dried tomatoes and grill the shrimp! A+
Michael Rodriguez
Pesto sauce was much better than the shrimp. If I make this again I won’t be using instant flour on the shrimp.
Luis Kennedy
First of all- there’s a novice in the building.
Second of all- I am patting myself on the back and high-fiving the creators of this recipe.
It was delicious! I’m so glad I was able to find the bucatini (never cooked with before. It adds a hearty toothsome mouthfeel to the dish. It has a larger diameter than spaghetti, but is smaller than udon. I wasn’t sure about spending the money for the San Marzano tomatoes and I’m curious to know if they really make a difference for everyone else. I did end up finding and using them. It gets a little nerve-wracking to stray from a recipe on Valentine’s day! Don’t want to disappoint the crowd here. ; Only thing of note here is that the mint seemed to overpower the basil taste in there pesto.. It may be because it isn’t basil season and I have some tame basil. Otherwise- may want to play with the basil to mint ratio. This recipe came out beautifully and was served well with fresh french bread. I’m excited for leftovers!

 

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