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Basil Beyond Pesto

by Heather
Shrimp-Basil-Tomato-Heather-Habelka

Basil. There’s no stopping the invasion.

Every summer – whether it’s hot & humid or cool & rainy, this feisty herb grows straight up to the sky!

Let’s be honest, there is only so much pesto a person can eat!

So this summer I’m challenging myself to incorporate fresh basil into my weeknight dinners.

Adding the cool, fragrant hit of basil to my shrimp, tomato & feta pasta hits all the right notes!

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Shrimp-Basil-Tomato-Heather-Habelka

Shrimp, Tomato & Basil Pasta

  • Author: Heather Habelka, TheHealthfulKitchen.com
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 2 Servings 1x
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Ingredients

Scale
  • 1/2 lb. Orzo Cooked Al Dente
  • 1 lb. Wild Caught Shrimp (uncooked, peeled & deveined)
  • 1 Pint Grape Tomatoes Halved
  • 1 Large Clove Garlic or 2 Medium Cloves Minced
  • 1 Bunch Fresh Basil
  • 1/2 Lemon Zested & Juiced
  • 1/2 Small Raw Red Onion Diced (Optional)
  • 1 Block Feta in Brine
  • 1 Tbsp. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • 1 Tbsp. Unsalted Butter
  • Salt & Pepper

Instructions

  1. Before cooking the pasta and the shrimp, wash & halve the tomatoes, mince the garlic, chiffonade the basil, dice the red onion, zest & juice the lemon, and break the feta into chucks (1/4 block).
  2. Be sure the shrimp is dry (place it between two paper towels) and once dry, season both sides with salt & pepper.
  3. Once all the prep is done, start with the orzo.
  4. Cook in salted, boiling water until al dente. Drain (don’t rinse) and set aside.
  5. While the orzo is boiling, gently warm the butter, olive oil, and garlic in a cast iron skillet or stainless steel sauté pan.
  6. As soon as the garlic becomes fragrant, toss in the seasoned shrimp.
  7. Cook shrimp over medium-low heat until it turns pink and it is just cooked through.
  8. Once the shrimp is cooked, toss the orzo into the pan along with the lemon zest and lemon juice.
  9. Thoroughly combine so the orzo is coated in the oil, butter, garlic, and lemon.
  10. If needed, add an additional drizzle of olive oil. You want a thin coating of the oil/butter.
  11. Turn off the heat and allow the pasta to warm through.
  12. Plate the dish by scooping the pasta and shrimp into individual serving bowls, or into one large bowl to serve family style.
  13. Top with tomatoes, feta, basil, and red onion.

Notes

Gasp. Yes! I do eat pasta from time to time when I can control the ingredients. Gluten is not one of my trigger foods.

I try to add garlic and/or onions into every dish. Part of the allium family, they are powerful protectors of our health.

I don’t cook with nonstick pots & pans. While this is my personal preference, I don’t want those chemicals in my food – or my body. The research on this is vast – give it a Google to learn more!

Finally, this dish cooks fast! It’s imperative that all ingredients are prepped before the cooking starts. No one likes overcooked pasta or shrimp!

Did you cook this in your Healthful Kitchen?

Please share/tag @the_healthful_kitchen #thehealthfulkitchen or rate/comment below!

 

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Welcome!

Welcome!

I'm Heather, Creator of The Healthful Kitchen & National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC). My Dad's cancer diagnosis led me to the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN) several years ago, and inspired my career change from marketing & communications to culinary health coaching. In addition to my national board certification (the health coaching profession's highest distinction), I've completed specialized training in integrative nutrition & holistic health cooking and studied at the Natural Gourmet Institute. I'm also proud to be a registered Health at Every Size practitioner. I'm so happy you landed here and hope you enjoy the affordable, simple & healthful recipes I create & the community I curate. Welcome to The Healthful Kitchen!

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