Favorite Celebrity Chef #SundaySupper...Featuring Emeril's Shrimp Penne in Pesto Cream Sauce

Happy December, everyone! The theme for this week's #SundaySupper is Favorite Celebrity Chef, hosted by Tammi from Momma's Meals. I was so excited to take part this week, but it was really hard for me to pick one favorite chef to feature a recipe from. I adore so many chefs: Julia Child, Ina Garten, Tyler Florence, and Nigella Lawson...just to name a few. However, the one chef who most inspires me in my cooking is Emeril Lagasse: he has a big-flavor approach to cooking that I can really relate to, and I love how his passion for food and cooking shows through in his television appearance and cookbooks! Once I had my chef, it was time to pick a recipe.

I happened to have a pound of lovely jumbo shrimp and some of my favorite pesto from the local farmers market, so I knew I had found what I was looking for when I came across a recipe for Emeril's Shrimp with Linguine in a Pesto Cream Sauce. I made a few small tweaks, but stayed pretty true to the original recipe. I decided to use a high-fiber penne pasta in place of the linguine, and I used half-and-half in place of heavy cream. The only addition I made was a bit of chopped sun-dried tomato...for a bit of extra color, flavor and texture. This dish was pretty quick to make. While the pasta water boiled, I peeled the shrimp...and I made the sauce while the pasta cooked. 

 Shrimp Penne in Pesto Cream Sauce

adapted from Emeril Lagasse

Step 1: Bring a pot of salted water to boil. While the water comes to a boil, peel and devein 1 lb. of jumbo shrimp. Place the shrimp in a small bowl, and add 1 tbs. Emeril's Essence. Toss to evenly coat the shrimp with the spices, and set aside. When the water comes to a boil, add 8 ounces of penne and cook until al dente -- 10-12 minutes. While the penne cooks, make the sauce. Add 1 tbs. butter and 1 tbs. olive oil to a non-stick pan over med-high heat. Add the shrimp and sear for 2 minute per side.

Step 2: Remove the shrimp from the pan and set aside. Add 1/2 cup finely chopped yellow onion to the pan and cook for 4-5 minutes, until they are lightly caramelized. Add 3 grated garlic cloves and cook until fragrant -- about 30 seconds. Add 3/4 cup half-and-half, 1/3 cup of your favorite pesto, an additional tablespoon of Essence, and salt to taste. Stir to combine and bring to a boil. Boil until the sauce is reduced and thickened -- about 2 minutes.

Step 3: Drain the pasta, reserving 1/2 cup of the cooking water. Turn the heat on the sauce to med-low. Add the pasta, 1/2 cup reserved cooking water, 1 tbs. finely chopped parsley, and 1/4 cup diced sun-dried tomatoes to the sauce. Toss with tongs to thoroughly coat the pasta with the sauce and let cook in the warm pan for 3-5 minutes. Place the penne on a serving platter and arrange the shrimp on top. Sprinkle with shredded parmesan just before serving.

This pasta is fabulous: the sauce is creamy, with a nice spicy kick from the Essence. The pesto provides a nutty-basil background flavor, and the sweet jumbo shrimp cuts through the richness of the sauce. This recipe is simple enough to make on a weeknight, but it's special enough to serve dinner guests. I tossed together a quick salad and heated up some store-bought garlic bread to serve on the side...and dinner was on the table in about 45 minutes.

Make sure to join us tonight at 600 CST for a Twitter chat to discuss our favorite celebrity chefs. In the meantime, make sure to go visit my fellow #SundaySupper food bloggers...you won't believe the wide variety of recipes they're sharing today!

Starters or Snacks : Martin at ENOFYLZ Wine Blog - Oyster and Brie Soup and Wine Pairings for Celebrity Chef Linda at The Urban Mrs. - Inspired by Bobby Flay, Lobster Chowder with Roasted Corn Salsa Erin from Dinners, Dishes and Desserts - Rachael Ray’s Cinnamon Popcorn Cindy over at Cindy’s Recipes and Writings - Jamie Oliver’s Bread and Tomato Soup Jeff at The Catholic Foodie - Drop Biscuits – Breakfast with Chef John Besh Renee over at Kudos Kitchen By Renee - Giada De Laurentiis’ Garlic Toasts With Red Pepper Aioli The Main Dish: Sheila at Cooking Underwriter – Paula Deen’s  Chicken in a Crock Pot w/ Sauerkraut and Apples Laura over at Small Wallet Big Appetite – Martin Yan’s Beef Chow Fun Claire at The Realistic Nutritionist – Alton Brown’s 40 Cloves and a Chicken Sarah over at Crispy Bits & Burnt Ends - Michael Symon’s Lola burger with crab tater tots Susan at The Girl in the Little Red Kitchen - Ina Garten’s Baked Shrimp Scampi Katy over at Happy Baking Days - Mary Berry’s Treacle Tart Tammi at Momma’s Meals – Lee Drummond’s Sloppy Joe’s Lane over at Supper for a Steal - Bobby Flay’s Rosemary Bricked Chicken Tara from Noshing with the Nolands - Michael Symon’s Pork and Apple Scallopini Shannon at Country Girl in the Village – Simple Red Sauce over Rigatoni. Inspired by,  Debi Mazar and Gabriele Corcos Kris over at In the Kitchen with Audrey and Maurene - Rachael Ray’s Muffin Tin Meatloaf Nicole from The Daily Dish Recipes - Paula Deen’s Slow Cooker Pulled Pickled Pork Sandwiches Becca from It’s Yummilicious - Ina Garten’s Grown Up Mac & Cheese Alice at  Hip Foodie Mom - Sunday Pot Roast with Risotto Cakes from Kelsey Nixon Jen over at  Juanita’s Cocina - The Neely’s White Turkey Chili Brianne from Cupcakes & Kale Chips - Crockpot Beef Pot Roast with Mushrooms inspired by Giada DeLaurentiis Isabel at Family Foodie - Polenta with Garlicky Shrimp inspired by Chef Todd English Wendy from  - Shrimp Penne in Pesto Cream Sauce, From Emeril Lagasse Bobbi over at Bobbi’s Kozy Kitchen - Cheesy Poblano Chicken Patti at Comfy Cuisine - Tyler Florence’s Chicken Francese Chris from Sustainable Dad - Pork Tenderloin with Jerusalem Artichokes and Negroni Vinaigrette Roxanne over at The Roxx Box - Jambalaya Pasta with Penne, Chicken, Shrimp and Andouille Sue from Sue’s Nutrition Buzz – Rachael Ray’s Spicy Corn Chowdah Mac ‘n’ Cheese Jamie at Mama Mommy Mom - Penne with Asparagus, Smoked Gouda and Prosciutto. Adapted from, Giada De Laurentiis’ Tora over at Tora’s Real Food – Pork and beans with Alton Brown’s Pickled Pork Amazing Sides: Elizabeth over at The Hand That Rocks The Ladle - Emeril’s New Orleans Style Red Beans & Rice Megan from I Run For Wine - Curtis Stone’s Acorn Squash Roasted with Thyme Sandi over at Midlife Road Trip -  Gabriele Corcos’s Gnocchi di Patate Shelby at  Diabetic Foodie - Orange Pecan Black Rice, adapted from Ina Garten Katie from She likes Ruffles, He likes Truffles - Chef Fabio Viviani’s Spinach and Artichoke Risotto Sweet Endings: Kim over at Cravings of a Lunatic - Chocolate Cream Puffs with Hazelnut Filling Renee over at Magnolia Days – Brownie Tart Connie at The Foodie Army Wife - Inspired by Ree Drummond – Scrumptious Apple Coffee Cake Paula over at Vintage Kitchen Notes - Bill Granger´s Cherry Tart Pam from The Meltaways – Savannah Sheet Cake Amber at Mama’s Blissful Bites - Huggy Buggy Bread Pudding Jaime over at Mom’s Test Kitchen - Southern Tea Cakes Amy over at Kimchi MOM - Crack Pie, I Can’t Quit You Lyn from The Lovely Pantry - Sweet Potato Chocolate Chip Squares Melanie at From Fast Food to Fresh Food – Sand TartsWine Pairings:  Martin at ENOFYLZ Wine Blog

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