Description
This vibrant Pesto Shrimp recipe features succulent shrimp grilled to perfection with a zesty homemade basil pesto. Ready in just 15 minutes, it’s a fresh and flavorful dish perfect for a quick dinner or entertaining guests.
Ingredients
Scale
Pesto
- 1 cup chopped fresh basil
- ½ lime, juiced
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
Shrimp
- 1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined, tails on or off (about 20 shrimp)
Instructions
- Preheat the grill: Preheat your grill to medium heat, between 350°F and 450°F. This ensures the shrimp cook evenly and get a nice char without burning.
- Prepare the pesto: Combine the chopped basil, lime juice, olive oil, grated Parmesan, garlic, salt, and black pepper in a strong blender or food processor. Pulse until the ingredients are fully blended into a smooth pesto sauce. Set aside for brushing.
- Skewer the shrimp: Thread 5 shrimp onto each skewer, making sure they are spaced evenly for even cooking.
- Brush with pesto: Generously brush both sides of the shrimp with the prepared pesto sauce to infuse flavor before grilling.
- Grill the shrimp: Place the pesto-brushed shrimp on the grill and cook for 2 to 3 minutes per side. While grilling, continue to brush shrimp with more pesto as you flip them to build layers of flavor. Shrimp are done when they turn pink and white and shrink slightly.
- Finish cooking if needed: If the shrimp are not fully cooked after the initial time, continue grilling for another 2 minutes on each side until fully opaque and cooked through.
- Serve: Remove the shrimp from the grill and serve immediately while hot. Enjoy the fresh, herbaceous taste of the pesto combined with smoky grilled shrimp.
Notes
- Keep shrimp tails on for easy handling on skewers and extra flavor, or remove tails if preferred.
- If you don’t have a grill, this recipe can be adapted for stovetop grilling or broiling in the oven using a broiler pan.
- Use fresh basil for the pesto for the best vibrant flavor; dried basil will not have the same impact.
- Be mindful not to overcook shrimp to keep them tender and juicy.
- Serve with a side of grilled vegetables or a fresh salad for a complete meal.
