Linguine with Rustic Pesto, Shrimp, and Calamari

Linguine with rustic pesto, shrimp, and calamari is a flavorful dish that combines the Ligurian tradition of pesto with typical seafood cuisine. Here is how you prepare it.

Ingredients

• 320 g of linguine
• 200 g of fresh or frozen shrimp
• 200 g of fresh or frozen calamari rings
• 100 g of Genoese pesto (basil, garlic, pine nuts, Parmesan, pecorino, and extra-virgin olive oil)
• Salt to taste
• Pepper to taste
• Extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 clove of garlic
• Chopped fresh parsley (optional for garnish)

Preparation

1. In a large pot, bring salted water to a boil for the linguine.
2. In the meantime, clean the shrimp by removing the shell and intestinal tract. If using fresh calamari, clean them by removing the innards and skin and cutting them into rings. If using frozen calamari rings, make sure they are thawed.
3. In a wide pan, heat a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil with a clove of garlic. Add the shrimp and calamari and cook over medium-high heat for 2-3 minutes until browned. Season lightly with salt and pepper to taste.
4. When the water boils, cook the linguine according to the package instructions to al dente.
5. Meanwhile, you can prepare the rustic pesto. If you don’t have ready-made pesto, you can quickly blend fresh basil, garlic, pine nuts, a handful of Parmesan, a handful of pecorino, and a drizzle of olive oil to achieve a not too fine consistency.
6. Drain the al dente linguine, saving some cooking water, and combine them in the pan with the shrimp and calamari.
7. Add the rustic pesto to the linguine and mix well over low heat, adding a little cooking water to make the sauce creamier if necessary.
8. Serve immediately, finishing with a sprinkle of chopped fresh parsley if desired.

Curiosity

Pesto, one of the most beloved sauces of Italian cuisine, is originally from Liguria, and its traditional recipe requires using a mortar to blend the ingredients well, achieving a unique flavor and texture. However, in this variant, we use a “rustic” version, which can also be obtained with a blender, giving the dish a modern and quick touch.