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Pesto shrimp noodles with spicy shrimp and spiralized zucchini on a neutral ceramic plate

Pesto Shrimp Noodles with Zucchini and Spicy Shrimp

Pesto Shrimp Noodles combine fresh zucchini noodles with creamy almond pesto and warmly spiced shrimp for a quick, flavorful meal. This dish is perfect for weeknights when you want a bright, satisfying bowl with contrasting textures.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Calories: 554
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Pesto
  • 1 cup kale
  • 1 cup spinach
  • 1 cup mixed basil and/or parsley (more basil is better, but substitute parsley if needed)
  • 3/4 cup almonds
  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • juice of one lemon (or 2 if the lemon is not very juicy)
Shrimp and Zucchini Noodles
  • 1 tablespoon butter or oil
  • 1 lb. (454 g) shrimp
  • 1-2 teaspoons each chili powder and cumin, plus any other spices you like
  • salt and pepper, as needed
  • 4 medium zucchini

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Add kale, spinach, basil and/or parsley, almonds, olive oil, water, salt, garlic, and lemon juice to a food processor or blender. Blend until mostly smooth or until the desired pesto texture is reached.
  2. Reserve 1 cup of the pesto for this recipe and set aside the remaining pesto for another use.
  3. Cut the zucchini into long noodle-like strands using a spiralizer or vegetable peeler.
Cooking
  1. Heat the butter or oil in a pan over medium-high heat.
  2. Add the shrimp and coat with chili powder, cumin, any additional spices, salt, and pepper. Cook while tossing until the shrimp is fully cooked and no longer translucent.
Assembly
  1. Toss the zucchini noodles with the reserved pesto just before serving to help maintain their texture.
  2. Top the pesto-coated zucchini noodles with the cooked spiced shrimp.

Notes

The zucchini noodles release water as they sit with pesto, so combine the noodles and sauce shortly before serving. For leftovers, store the components separately and assemble before eating. The noodles can be served raw for a soft-crunchy texture, or briefly sautéed with oil, garlic, salt, and pepper if a warmer texture is preferred.