Name: Avocado Pesto Pasta with Garlic Shrimp
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 16 oz pasta of choice (*cooked in heavily salted water); 16 oz pint cherry tomatoes (favorite colors) (*can use up to 24 oz of tomatoes ); 2 large ripe avocados; 3/4 cup unsalted cashews; 2 handfuls fresh basil leaves (*stripped from stems ); 2 tbsp lemon juice; 3-4 cloves garlic; 1/2 tsp sea salt; 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil; 1 lb large uncooked shrimp (*see notes above for cleaning); 3-4 cloves garlic (*thinly sliced); 1 tsp red chili pepper flakes; 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

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Super healthy and easy, this Avocado Pesto Pasta with Garlic Shrimp is beyond delicious. Dairy free and packed with good for you fats, this recipe is an absolute healthy comfort meal that is perfect for lunch or dinner.

This post may contain affiliate links which I earn a small portion in sales if a purchase is made. Rest assured though, it is never at any additional cost to you.

I recently was gifted, from from aunt and uncle, a very large bag of lemons and another large bag of avocados from their back yard. (Got to love living in San Diego!)

Our counters have been full of produce but as you can imagine I was beyond thrilled by this because I ADORE lemons and avocados.

I immediately went to work brewing up a batch of my favorite Homemade Limoncello, making Simple Healthy Guacamole and this incredibly delicious Avocado Pesto Pasta Salad.

My husband and I have been feasting like kings and between the gorgeous sunny days and all the delicious produce, it has felt like Springtime here.

I highly suggest that if it is the dead of Winter where you live, make this pasta salad recipe. Not only is it creamy, it is slightly nutty and with a hint of refreshing lemon. Top it off with the garlic shrimp and it is pure heaven!

Wild Caught vs Farmed Raised Shrimp

Let me just say that digging deeper into this subject is enough to make your stomach turn. Do just a little research and you quickly find article after article cautioning on eating farmed raised shrimp and sometimes wild caught also, although wild caught is clearly much better. One major issue in trying to find shrimp you feel safe feeding your family is many large grocery chains only carry farmed raised shrimp. Here are a few tips that may help:

Scout out your local health food stores as many of them will carry wild caught shrimp at their seafood counters. Be sure to also ask if the wild caught shrimp is imported. It is best to stick with wild caught shrimp from the United States as Trawls (heavy weighted nest) are not used. Unfortunately imported wild caught shrimp are caught by using these nets and sadly these nets catch other wild life often killing them and are a huge contributing factor to the loss of coral reef.
If you absolutely can not find wild caught shrimp your next best option would be sustainably
raised shrimp grown in the U.S. But here is the catch, don’t assume they do not use antibiotics and pesticides. Ask and get to know your farmer.
Purchasing shrimp that was responsibly caught or raised can be a bit more expensive so use shrimp as a once in awhile treat rather than a weekly occurrence.

How to effectively clean shrimp

First off, if your shrimp is frozen the best way to defrost is to soak it in cold water in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes. You may need to change the water a few times. Once defrosted you will want to remove the shell. I have found the easiest way to do this is to use your fingernails. Start at the belly and pull back the shell until it is fully removed. If you choose to remove the tail, gently pull the shrimp meat using one hand while the other hand holds onto the tail. The last step of removing the vein is the most important! I have found the easiest way is to use a small curved paring knife. (affiliate) Using the sharp tip of the knife cut through the curved surface just above the vein making sure not to go too deep. The vein at this point should come out rather easy using your fingers. I always rinse the shrimp one final time after deveining.

How to ripen avocados quickly

Let’s be honest here, avocados have a mind of their own. They will ripen at the rate they want to, period. It is very much like dealing with a stubborn teenager. There is one trick though, that I have found to help time and time again. Place about 5- 6 avocados in a large paper bag, add 1 or 2 bananas to hang out with the avocados and make sure to roll the top of the bag shut, similar to closing a lunch bag. Here is a quick explanation as to why this works.

Tips for Avocado Pesto Pasta with Garlic Shrimp:

If you aren’t a huge fan of cashews exchange them for your favorite nut. I love cashews and thought they added a soft creaminess to the avocado pesto but I also think toasted walnuts would be phenomenal also. Check out my Toasted Walnut Pesto for tips to toasting.
Have you done a little research on authentic real olive oil lately? It can make your head spin, because I know it did mine. It is completely confusing trying to find an honest brand that isn’t using fillers. In all my researching the brand that got great marks time and time again was Bragg’s Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil. (affiliate)
I can’t even imagine trying to make pesto without a good quality food processor and this processor has been good to me. I have used it about 2 or more times a week for the last 8 years and it is still going strong. (affiliate)
Heating the olive oil on low heat with the garlic slices and chili pepper flakes (crushed red pepper) infuses the oil with a wonderful savory mild heat. Just make sure not to get impatient and increase the heat as you will end up with burnt garlic. Plus, not only does it smell amazing while cooking, it is fun to watch it bubble. (affiliate)