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Creamy Garlic Shrimp over Luscious Green Fettuccine with Pesto

This artful combination of green pasta and pink shrimp will make you feel all elegant even if you are just wearing your gym clothes!

Course Main Course
Cuisine Italian
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 4 people

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces spinach fettuccine Deboles if available or any other dried linguine
  • 1/3 cup spinach and basil pesto or any other green pesto
  • 1/2 cup reserved pasta water
  • 4 tablespoons butter divided
  • 2 tablespoons garlic
  • 1 pound raw medium shrimp peeled and deveined and dried well
  • ¼ cup finely chopped parsley
  • 3 ounces Philadelphia cream cheese full fat or reduced fat at room temperature, cubed
  • juice of one lemon
  • 1 1/2 cups baby spinach or Lacinato kale julienned if you are using kale
  • freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

  1. In a large pot over moderately high heat, combine 4 quarts of water and salt. Bring to a boil, then add fettuccine and cook to one minute short of al dente according to the package instructions.

  2. Drain pasta and set aside, reserving 1/2 cup of pasta water.

  3. In the meantime, melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic and sauté until it is translucent but not browned, about 2 minutes.
  4. Add the shrimp to the butter mixture and turn the heat to medium high. Stir the shrimp around until they are just cooked, about 2 minutes. Add parsley, cream cheese and lemon juice. Lower the heat to low and keep the mixture warm.

  5. Add the drained pasta to the pot in which it was cooked along with the reserved pasta water. Turn the heat to medium and add the pesto, stirring well until the pasta is warm. Add the spinach or julienned kale and cook for two to three minutes, stirring constantly until the spinich or kale is just wilted. Remove pan from the heat and add the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter. Stir until everything is well combined.

  6. Turn the pasta into a large, warmed bowl and pour the shrimp mixture over the top. Garnish with freshly grated Parmesan cheese.