This Thursday's team lunch took us to Italy, specifically a delicious adventure in the land of pasta. We ordered from Basil Pasta Bar, and while my Pesto Shrimp Linguine boasted all the hallmarks of a flavorful dish, it fell a little short of its full potential.
Let's dissect the beauty that awaited me: perfectly cooked al dente linguine formed the base, ready to cradle the star of the show - a creamy pesto sauce. This wasn't your average pesto sauce, though. Imagine a vibrant green infusion of basil's earthy goodness swirled with the richness of the cream, all gently nudged into a complex dance by the subtle acidity of white wine.
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Pesto Shrimp Linguinefrom Basil Pasta Bar Pesto cream sauce with white wine, shrimp, garlic, and spinach. Garnished with parmesan cheese & fresh basil |
Then came the parade of add-ins: plump, juicy shrimp, their delicate sweetness playing off the pesto's savoury notes. Garlic, a constant companion in Italian cuisine, added a touch of warmth, while the spinach provided a welcome pop of freshness and a touch of bitterness to balance the creaminess. Finally, a generous shower of parmesan cheese and fresh basil completed the picture, promising an explosion of Italian flavour.
Unfortunately, the promise wasn't entirely fulfilled. The overall dish was bland. A quick sprinkle of salt would have easily unlocked the symphony of flavours I expected. Each component — the pesto's herbal depth, the shrimp's subtle sweetness, and the parmesan's sharp bite — was present, but they needed a conductor to bring them together in perfect harmony.
With a touch more salt, this Pesto Shrimp Linguine has the potential to be a light and fresh pesto dream. The foundation was there, the ingredients delightful, and with a minor adjustment, it could have been a true testament to the magic of Italian cuisine.
