Gnocchi With Shrimp, Asparagus & Pesto

There's something to be said for quick and easy but FRESH meals. This meal was so easy to make and I guarantee anyone could make it.  If you can boil water, this is the recipe for you :)  I pretty much followed the recipe exact, it was just too good to mess around with.

I acquired a magic bullet through marriage (thanks honey!) and I am ashamed to say that I don't use it to it's fullest.  Its fantastic for making Pesto, so why we are not having fresh pesto is a mystery. Something that I MUST change though!  ;)

On to the recipe:

Gnocchi With Shrimp, Asparagus & Pesto

Source: Cooking Light JULY 2007 (via myrecipes.com)

YIELD: 4 servings (serving size: 2 cups)

Ingredients

2 quarts plus 1 tablespoon water, divided

1 (16-ounce) package vacuum-packed gnocchi

4 cups (1-inch) slices asparagus (about 1 pound)

1 pound peeled and deveined large shrimp, coarsely chopped (I forgot this step, so shrip was whole and worked fine)

1 cup basil leaves

2 tablespoons pine nuts, toasted

2 tablespoons preshredded Parmesan cheese

2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

2 teaspoons bottled minced garlic

4 teaspoons extravirgin olive oil

1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions

Bring 2 quarts water to a boil in a Dutch oven, or large pot. Add gnocchi to boiling water and cook 4 minutes or until done (gnocchi will rise to surface). Remove gnocchi with a slotted spoon; place in a large bowl. Add asparagus and shrimp to water, cook 5 minutes or until shrimp are done. Drain. Add shrimp mixture to gnocchi.

Combine remaining 1 tablespoon water, basil, and next 4 ingredients (through garlic) in a food processor (or a handy dandy magic bullet); process until smooth, scraping sides. Drizzle oil through food chute with food processor on (or just stop and unscrew bottom from bullet - it doesn't seem to hurt the process); continue until well blended. Add salt and basil mixture to shrimp mixture; toss to coat. Serve immediately.

Before

After

This was so yummy and fresh and light!  The daughter loved it, which REALLY surprised us.  She ate it even though the entire dish was green AND it had asparagus.  Its a mother's dream come true :)

Nutritional Information

    * Amount per serving

    * Calories: 355

    * Calories from fat: 24%

    * Fat: 9.3g

    * Saturated fat: 1.6g

    * Monounsaturated fat: 4.5g

    * Polyunsaturated fat: 2.5g

    * Protein: 26.5g

    * Carbohydrate: 42.7g

    * Fiber: 3g

    * Cholesterol: 170mg

    * Iron: 5.7mg

    * Sodium: 894mg

    * Calcium: 108mg