Shrimp Onion Crostini With Almond Parsley Pesto Recipes

SHRIMP PESTO PASTA

Steps:

• If frozen, thaw the shrimp.
• Start a pot of well salted water to a boil. Boil the pasta until it is just al dente. Start tasting a few minutes before the package recommends: you want it to be tender but still a little firm on the inside; usually around 7 to 8 minutes. Just before draining, reserve 1 cup pasta water! Then drain the pasta.
• Pat the shrimp dry. In a medium bowl, mix the shrimp with spices. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil on medium high heat. Cook the shrimp for 1 to 2 minutes per side until opaque and cooked through, turning them with tongs. Remove from the heat and set aside.
• Place the pasta in a bowl (not the pasta pot). Stir together the pasta, pesto, and 1/2 cup pasta water, tossing with tongs until the pesto is well distributed and the pasta water forms a creamy sauce. Add more pasta water if desired. Stir in 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt and taste. If the flavor doesn't pop, add a few more pinches until it does. Top with the cooked shrimp and serve immediately. (Store any leftovers refrigerated: note that pesto can get gummy when reheated, so it's best to eat leftovers cold or room temp.)

EASY PESTO SHRIMP

Steps:

• If necessary, thaw the shrimp.
• Pat the shrimp dry.
• In a large skillet, heat the olive oil on medium high heat. Add the shrimp and salt. Cook the shrimp for 1 to 2 minutes per side until almost opaque, turning them with tongs.
• Just before shrimp are fully cooked, add the 1/4 cup pesto and continue cooking for 30 seconds, stirring continuously.
• Serve immediately. If using storebought pesto, adjust lemon and or salt accordingly.

GRILLED PESTO SHRIMP

Steps:

• Thread the shrimp onto skewers, if desired. (I usually don't bother, unless the shrimp are on the smaller side, in which case they might slip through the grill grates.)
• In a food processor or blender, combine the olive oil, basil, garlic, red pepper flakes, salt, Parmigiano-Reggiano and walnuts. Process until the mixture is well blended. Reserve two tablespoons of the pesto in a bowl large enough to hold all of the shrimp and set aside. Pour the remaining pesto over the shrimp and let sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes to marinate.
• Preheat the grill to medium-high heat. Lightly dip a wad of paper towels in vegetable oil and, using tongs, carefully rub over the grates several times until glossy and coated. Place the shrimp on the grill and cook until plump and slightly charred, a few minutes per side. Transfer the cooked shrimp to the bowl with the reserved pesto and toss to coat evenly. Serve immediately.

SUNNY'S QUICK ONION AND GARLIC SHRIMP WITH PASTA

Steps:

• Add olive oil, lemon zest and a few grinds of black pepper to a large saute pan over medium-low heat. Cook until oil is warm and pepper is fragrant when you waft it towards you, about 4 minutes.
• Add the onions, garlic, scallions, a pinch of chile flakes and a pinch of salt and cook, stirring occasionally to prevent them from browning, until the green of the scallions are wilted and darkened and the onion and garlic are tender, about 4 minutes. Add the tomatoes and cook, stirring, until softened, about 2 minutes. Add clam juice and lemon juice and bring to a light simmer; stir. Taste: If the tart of the tomatoes and lemon juice is too strong, add sugar in sprinkles, stirring and tasting as you go until it tastes just right. You may not use it at all or you may not use it all; it's totally optional.
• Raise the heat to medium and nestle the shrimp into the pan. Cover and cook on one side until shrimp begins to turn opaque and curl slightly, 2 to 3 minutes. Toss and cook until shrimp just begins to turn pink on the other side, 1 to 2 more minutes. (Shrimp cooks fast and there's a thin line between done and overdone; the best rule is to remove the pan from the heat as it begins to reach the finish line.) Continue tossing and the heat of the pan will continue to cook the shrimp until done. Add pasta to a large serving bowl, then sprinkle with parsley, drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with some more salt and pepper and top with the shrimp mixture. Serve warm during the winter or chilled during the summer.

SHRIMP-ONION CROSTINI WITH ALMOND-PARSLEY PESTO

Steps:

• Make the pesto (this can be done ahead): Stick a palmful of almonds, a small handful of parsley, and a heart attack-inducing amount of salt in a food processer until it's nice and crumbly (don't worry about the salt, the pesto will be eaten in small portions!) Beat together about a tablespoon of softened butter with a couple glugs of olive oil until the butter floats around in little clumps. Mix oil mixture and almond/parsley mixture together and add freshly ground pepper. Taste it because it probably needs more salt, then plastic-wrap your container and put it in the fridge for later or continue the recipe.
• Preheat the broiler.
• If you're using fresh shrimp, shell and take the yucky stuff out, butterfly, then cook, saute, or grill with olive oil and black pepper. If using pre-cooked shrimp, thaw.
• Thinly slice the onion, and preserve the circle shape while saute-ing gently in oil just until tender, ~5 minutes.
• Slice the bread 1-1.5 inches thick and lay out on an ungreased baking sheet. Brush with olive oil.
• Thinly slice tomatoes, cover each crostini with one layer (either one slice from a big tomato or three slices from a grape tomato).
• Place a slice of the onion on top of each tomato, lay one (jumbo) or two (small) shrimp on top of the onion. Sprinkle chopped green onion over the tops.
• Broil until the bread is nice and toasty, about 10 minutes.
• Spoon a small amount of pesto onto each crostini, and serve.
• For bonus points, sprinkle with mozerella cheese!

PARSLEY PAPRIKA PESTO SHRIMP COCKTAIL SAUCE

Steps:

• Place everything except oil in a food processor fitted with a blade attachment. With food processor running, slowly pour in oil until fully incorporated; season with additional salt, as desired. (Can be made up to 1 day ahead, covered and refrigerated.)
• Serve with cooked and chilled shrimp.

CREAMY SHRIMP CROSTINI

Steps:

• Preheat broiler. Lightly brush 1 side of each baguette slice with oil. Arrange on 2 baking sheets. Broil until lightly toasted, about 1 minute.
• Using electric mixer, beat cream cheese, mayonnaise and mustard in large bowl to blend. Mix in shrimp, green onions, dill and lemon peel. Season with salt and pepper. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Store toasts in airtight container at room temperature. Cover shrimp mixture and chill.)
• Spread 1 tablespoon shrimp mixture atop each toast. Arrange crostini on baking sheets; broil until shrimp mixture begins to brown, about 2 minutes. Top with parsley.

BELL PEPPER AND ONION CROSTINI WITH PESTO

Steps:

• Make toasts:
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Put baguette slices on 2 large baking sheets, then brush tops with oil and season with salt and pepper. Bake in batches in middle of oven until pale golden, about 10 minutes. Cool on a rack.
• Cook peppers and onions:
• Cook bell peppers, onions, and garlic with salt in oil in a wide 4- to 6-quart heavy pot over moderately low heat, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until softened, 20 to 25 minutes. Cover pot and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are very tender and just starting to brown, 20 to 25 minutes more. Stir in vinegar and remove from heat.
• Make pesto while peppers cook:
• Pulse all pesto ingredients except oil in a food processor until finely chopped. With motor running, add oil in a slow stream and blend until combined well.
• Assemble crostini:
• Put about 1 tablespoon pepper mixture on each toast and top with about 1/4 teaspoon pesto.

SHRIMP AND ONIONS

Steps:

• Shell, clean and devein shrimp. Remove tails. Sprinkle with seasonings.
• Melt butter in large skillet. Add shrimp, bell pepper and onion and garlic if using. Cook over medium heat for 3-5 minutes.
• Move skillet from side to side to keep onions moving and to discourage sticking. Watch closely. Do not over cook nor scorch onions.
• Serve over white rice or grits.