Name: Creamy Avocado Pesto
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: Penne pasta - 1 (8 ounce) package; Uncooked medium shrimp, peeled and deveined (Optional) - ¼ pound; Avocado, peeled and pitted - 1 medium; Fresh basil leaves, or to taste - ½ cup; Grated Romano cheese, divided - 4 tablespoons; Garlic - 2 cloves; Lemon, juiced - ½ medium; Salt and ground black pepper to taste - ½ medium; Olive oil, or as needed - ¼ cup; Diced cherry tomatoes, or more to taste (Optional) - ¼ cup

Ingredients for - Creamy Avocado Pesto

1. Penne pasta 1 (8 ounce) package

2. Uncooked medium shrimp, peeled and deveined (Optional) ¼ pound

3. Avocado, peeled and pitted 1 medium

4. Fresh basil leaves, or to taste ½ cup

5. Grated Romano cheese, divided 4 tablespoons

6. Garlic 2 cloves

7. Lemon, juiced ½ medium

8. Salt and ground black pepper to taste ½ medium

9. Olive oil, or as needed ¼ cup

10. Diced cherry tomatoes, or more to taste (Optional) ¼ cup

How to cook deliciously - Creamy Avocado Pesto

1 . Stage

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add penne and cook, stirring occasionally, until mostly cooked through, 8 to 10 minutes. Add shrimp to the pot and cook until bright pink on the outside and the meat is opaque, 2 to 3 minutes; penne should be cooked through at this point.

2 . Stage

While the penne is cooking, combine avocado, basil, 2 tablespoons Romano cheese, garlic, and lemon juice in a food processor; season with salt and pepper. Process until smooth. Add olive oil and pulse until creamy. Remove the blade from the food processor; stir diced tomatoes into pesto.

3 . Stage

Drain penne and shrimp, then return to the pot. Add pesto, season with salt and pepper, and stir to coat.

4 . Stage

Garnish servings with remaining Romano cheese.