Lemony shrimp spaghetti with spinach for two

a bowl of pasta with shrimp and basil
Prep Time:
10 min
Cook Time:
20 min
Serves:
2 Servings
Serving Size:
2 cups (500 mL)
a bowl of pasta with shrimp and basil

Ingredients

Serves: 2

  • 2 cups (500 mL) baby spinach, divided
  • 1 cup (250 mL) fresh basil leaves
  • 1 clove garlic, roughly chopped
  • 2 Tbsp (30 mL) olive oil
  • Zest of one lemon
  • 2 Tbsp (30 mL) lemon juice
  • 2 Tbsp (30 mL) toasted walnuts
  • 2 Tbsp (30 mL) Parmesan cheese
  • ⅛ tsp (0.5 mL) salt
  • 100 g fibre-enriched spaghetti
  • ½ cup (125 mL) pasta cooking water
  • 1 shallot, finely chopped or ¼ cup (60 mL) chopped onion
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • ⅓ lb (150 g) shelled, deveined shrimp (if using frozen, thaw first)

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of water to boil.
  2. Combine 1 cup (250 mL) spinach, basil, 1 clove garlic, olive oil, lemon zest, lemon juice, walnuts, cheese and salt in a blender or food processor. Set aside.
  3. Cook spaghetti for time indicated on package; remove ½ cup (125 mL) cooking water after about 3–4 minutes.
  4. Add cooking water to blender and blend until smooth.
  5. Meanwhile, spray a large non-stick frying pan with cooking spray. Add shallot and remaining 2 cloves garlic and cook, stirring occasionally over medium heat until transparent, about 2 to 3 minutes. Add shrimp and cook about 2 minutes per side until pink. Toss in remaining 1 cup (250 mL) spinach and the blended sauce.
  6. Drain pasta while al dente and toss into pan with shrimp mixture. Serve hot.

Tips

  • Nutrition know-how: Fibre-enriched pasta has the same amount of carbohydrates as regular pasta but double the fibre. This helps to slow your blood sugar response after the meal, as does combining it with protein and high-fibre vegetables.

Posted on September 02, 2026

Amount% Daily Value
Nutritional Information Per 2 cups (500 mL)
Calories 510
Fat 22 g29 %
Saturated Fat 3 g
+ Trans Fat 0 g
15 %
Cholesterol 155 mg
Sodium 480 mg21 %
Carbohydrate 51 g
Fibre 8 g29 %
Sugars 5 g5 %
Protein 31 g
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Posted on September 02, 2026