This pesto pasta salad is a super easy and delicious dinner option. It features pasta of your choice, fresh basil pesto, zucchini, summer squash, and juicy shrimp.
I get my recipe inspiration from every little aspect of my life. Sometimes, I would be laying in bed, trying to go to sleep and an awesome idea would pop into my head. I’ve started keeping a notepad by my bed so I can write down all the ideas. I also have a desktop full of post-its. Too many ideas swirling in my head!
This is my latest idea that was actually inspired by a great magazine. I get All You Magazine almost every month at Target. It’s a great little magazine that’s like several magazines in one.
What inspired me most about the July issue, is their pasta 101 article. It’s a several-page spread that talks about different pasta types and tips on cooking each pasta. It also has a recipe for each pasta type that they cover. I can’t wait to try their tortellini recipe and rice noodle recipe.
I just got a bowl of fresh basil from my herb garden and I knew that I just had to make a pesto pasta salad. Since it’s summer, vegetables make a perfect addition to pasta and potato salads. Shrimp make an ideal compliment this pasta salad!
Nothing can be better than a pasta salad made with fresh veggies, shrimp and homemade pesto!
Shrimp And Veggie Pesto Pasta
Ingredients
Pesto (makes about 3/4 cup of pesto):
- 2 cups basil leaves packed
- 2 large gloves of garlic
- 2/3 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup walnuts or pine nuts
- 1/2 cup virgin olive oil may need to add a little more after blended
Pasta:
- 12 oz Cellentani pasta uncooked, makes about 3 cups cooked
- 1 medium zucchini
- 1 medium summer squash
- 1/2 tbsp olive oil to cook the veggies
- 3 garlic cloves
- 1 tbsp fresh parsley
- 1 lb uncooked medium shrimp
- 1 tbsp olive oil to cook the shrimp
- 2 tbsp olive oil to mix into pasta
- salt to taste
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to directions, drain and set aside.
- Chop and saute the vegetables with some salt, pepper and dill weed. Add the cooked veggies to the pasta.
- Cook the shrimp with minced garlic and a little bit of salt and pepper. Add shrimp to pasta.
- In the medium bowl, mix pasta, shrimp and veggies. Add 3 tbs of pesto, 2 tbs of oil and some salt and pepper. Mix well.
- This pasta salad can be served cold or warm as a pasta bowl.
Nutrition
Miz Helen says
What a great salad for a hot summers evening. Thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday and have a great week!
Come Back Soon,
Miz Helen
lyuba says
Thank you so much, Miz Helen!
Krista @ joyfulhealthyeats says
Looks delicious Lyuba! I love fresh homemade pesto with shrimp, add in some noodles and you got yourself a rocking dish! 🙂 Great recipe. 🙂
lyuba says
Thank you so much, Krista!
Jen Nikolaus says
This really looks amazing! I love pasta salad! I feel the same way you do – I’ll be falling asleep and then BAM an idea pops in my head. Love post-its! 🙂 Thanks for another great recipe, Lyuba!
~Jen @ Yummy Healthy Easy
lyuba says
Haha, yeap!
Thank you so much, Jen!
Jeni says
I love pasta salad, and this sounds really good!
lyuba says
Thank you, Jeni!
Lisa @ Cooking with Curls says
That is an awesome looking pasta dish! I love all of the flavors. I usually have ideas pop into my head while I’m in the shower! Now I just need to find a waterproof board to hang on the wall so I can write them all down 🙂
lyuba says
That would be an awesome project, Lisa! Hope you work on that 🙂
Thanks so much!
Susan D says
yummmmm, hope you’ll bring this to my Sunday Funday Linky Party tomorrow!!
*Susan @ Adventures in my Kitchen
soozind.blogspot.com
lyuba says
Thanks so much, Susan!
Paula@SweetPea says
I enjoyed the July issue of All You while at the beach. The Pesto Pasta Salad recipe caught my eye and I’ll be sure to try it after reading your review. I made the garlicy broccoli pasta from the July issue and it was great!
lyuba says
Sounds yummy! Thank you, Paula!
Amelia says
This looks so fabulous! I love pesto pasta salads, but have never put shrimp in mine. Can’t wait to make this!
lyuba says
Thanks so much, Amelia!
kelley @ Miss Information says
Looks so yummy Lyuba, and the photo’s are beautiful
lyuba says
Awww, thank you, Kelley!
bonnie@uncommon designs says
Seriously YUMMY Lyuba!! Looks so great! Love All You!
lyuba says
Thank you so much, love!
Carla says
Ahhh I love shrimp and I love pasta, so what could be better than a new salad combination on a hot humid day in Florida!
lyuba says
Thank you!
2Momma2 says
You have me drooling! This looks sooo good. I keep wondering which would be best cold or hot – guess I’ll have to try it both ways! Yum!
Kristin
ExploringDomesticity.blogspot.com
lyuba says
Yay, that was the plan 🙂
Thank you!