Spaghetti with Mint Pesto & Shrimps

Yeah, you read that right. When I’m out of fresh basil leaves but still want a good pesto, mint is my go-to alternative. For me, that’s handy because we grow mint in our garden and its currently in abundance. If you’re septic about mint pesto, I’d say give it a try. I love it. Besides mint is good for health, find out more here.

Spaghetti with mint pesto and shrimps

Spaghetti Pesto is my current favorite meal. It’s become my comfort food. Usually I have that with mushrooms sauteed in a bit of olive oil but today i wanted to try with it shrimps, just to shake things up a little.

I’m dividing this recipe into 2 parts because you can have pesto with a lot of things; salads, toast, etc.

Ingredients for the Pesto

  • 2 cups fresh mint leaves
  • 4 garlic cloves
  • 1/4 cup lemon juice
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • salt & pepper
  • 1/4 cup roasted pine nuts (optional)

Ingredients for the Shrimps

  • 250g shrimps (clean)
  • 2 garlic cloves (grated)
  • salt & pepper
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

Rest of the Ingredients

  • 175g Spaghetti
  • 1/2 cup cooking cream

Preparation

  1. Marinate the shrimps with its set of ingredients for 15 minutes
  2. Boil the spaghetti according to the instructions on your packet. Reserve 1/2 cup of the cooking water for a later stage in the preparation
  3. For the pesto, add the set of ingredients to your grinder/mixer and pulse until its all smooth and creamy.
  4. In a large pot, sauteed your shrimps with a drizzle of olive oil
  5. Once the shrimps are ready, stir in the spaghetti and the pesto.
  6. Add the cooking water and the cooking cream. Mix well and let it simmer for a few minutes.
  7. Taste and adjust the seasoning with salt if needed
  8. Cover the pot for a few minutes to let the spaghetti set before serving.

Looking for something healthier and lighter? Try our avocado & shrimp salad