Name: SPINACH PESTO PASTA WITH SHRIMP
Ingredients: 2 cups fresh baby spinach; 1 cup fresh basil leaves; 1/2 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley; 1/2 cup seeded plum tomato (chopped); 6 tablespoons toasted walnuts (chopped); 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice; a pinch of Sel Magique Classic or Salt & Pepper Blend; 1 clove fresh garlic (chopped); 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil; 8 ounces whole-wheat penne pasta; 1 pound fresh asparagus; 1 tablespoon unsalted butter; 1 pound large fresh shrimp (peeled and deveined); 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper; 1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper; 1/2 cup multicolored grape tomatoes (halved); 1/3 cup Parmesan Cheese

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SPINACH PESTO PASTA WITH SHRIMP

Pesto is a great big-batch sauce for using up a mix of herbs and greens, but it tends to go army-green if made ahead. We quickly blanch spinach and basil to preserve the color without diluting flavor, then bump up the green with fresh parsley. A little chopped tomato adds moisture and mild acidity. Be sure to press the plastic wrap directly on the surface of the pesto to keep it from browning. A simple shrimp and asparagus pasta toss lets the pesto shine; you could also use chicken breast, broccoli florets, or haricots verts.

Ingredients

2 cups fresh baby spinach
1 cup fresh basil leaves
1/2 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley
1/2 cup seeded plum tomato chopped
6 tablespoons toasted walnuts chopped
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
a pinch of Sel Magique Classic or Salt & Pepper Blend
1 clove fresh garlic chopped
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
8 ounces whole-wheat penne pasta
1 pound fresh asparagus
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 pound large fresh shrimp peeled and deveined
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
1/2 cup multicolored grape tomatoes halved
1/3 cup Parmesan Cheese

Instructions

To prepare pesto, bring a large saucepan filled with water to a boil. Add spinach and basil; cook 20 seconds. Remove spinach mixture to a bowl filled with ice water (reserve water in pan); let stand 30 seconds. Drain and pat dry with paper towels.
Place parsley, seeded plum tomato, toasted walnuts, fresh lemon juice, Sel Magique Classic or Salt & Pepper Blend, Parmesan Cheese, garlic in food processor; process until finely chopped. Add spinach mixture and 2 tablespoons oil; process to combine. Place 3/4 cup pesto in a small bowl; place plastic wrap directly on pesto. Reserve for Pesto Chicken with Blistered Tomatoes and Vegetable Soup au Pisto.
To prepare pasta, return water in pan to a boil. Add pasta; cook according to package directions, adding asparagus during last 5 minutes of cooking. Drain in a colander over a bowl, reserving 3/4 cup cooking liquid.
Heat 1 tablespoon oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-high until butter melts. Sprinkle shrimp with red pepper and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Add shrimp to pan; cook 1 to 2 minutes on each side or until done. Remove shrimp from pan.
Add pasta mixture and reserved 3/4 cup cooking liquid to pan; cook 1 minute. Stir in remaining 6 tablespoons pesto, shrimp, grape tomatoes, and a pinch of your Sel Magique Classic or Salt & Pepper blend. Divide pasta mixture evenly among 4 bowls.
Recipe found on Cookinglight.com