Recipe: Arugula Pesto, Corn, and Shrimp Pasta

I adore this Arugula Pesto, Corn, and Shrimp Pasta for several reasons. The pasta is an ideal backdrop to the rich, salty pesto. The corn brings in not only a contrast of texture, but a sweet note that cuts through the rich sauce. A perfect side for grilling, or add in grilled shrimp as shown to make it a main. Bonus: it can be cooked all on the grill using the side burner, if you have one. Feel free to sub at will; pistachios for the walnuts, Romano for the Parmesan; spinach for the arugula, any protein for the shrimp, the world is your pasta bowl!

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• 1 pound Pasta, preferably a whimsical shape like baby shells
• 2 cups arugula
• 1 cup corn (frozen or fresh)
• 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, plus some for garnish
• 1/2 cup walnuts
• 2 cloves garlic
• 2 lemons
• 1/3 cup quality Olive Oil
• 1 pound shrimp, peeled, deveined, tail off
• 1 teaspoon red pepper flake

Make it:

• Bring pot of salted water to boil. Cook pasta just shy of al dente (reserving a cup of pasta water).
• Zest, then juice lemons.
• To a food processor, pulse garlic until chopped*. Add in walnuts, Parmesan cheese, arugula and juice of both lemons. Pulse until coarse. While running, stream in olive oil. Season with a heavy grind of pepper and a subtle pinch of salt.
• In a large saucepan, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil on medium heat. Saute shrimp for 2-3 minutes (if adding shrimp).
• Add red pepper flake and corn to pan, cook for 2-3 minutes or until shrimp is cooked. Turn heat to low, fold in pasta, pesto, and 1 cup of reserved pasta water.
• Briefly cook for 1-2 minutes on low, until sauce thickens and pasta absorbs some of the liquid. Serve garnished with lemon zest and grated Parmesan. Enjoy your Arugula Pesto, Corn, and Shrimp Pasta!

*to tame the intense raw garlic fire, drop the clove into the boiling pasta water for 30 seconds.