Shrimp and Pesto-Rice Salad

By LRay

Southern Living, January 2015, page 112.

Serve this brand-new twist on the old rice salad warm, or make it ahead, chill, and serve cold.

Ingredients

• 1 pound peeled, large raw shrimp, deveined
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/2 cup olive oil, divided
• 2 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
• 2 teaspoons loosely packed lime zest, divided
• 1/2 cup loosely packed fresh mint leaves
• 1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and diced
• 2 large garlic cloves, smashed
• 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
• 2 (5-oz.) packages fresh baby spinach
• 4 cups warm cooked long-grain rice
• 1/2 cup smoked almonds, chopped

Details

Servings 6
Adapted from myrecipes.com

Preparation

Step 1

1. Preheat oven to 425°. Toss together shrimp, black pepper, 1/4 cup oil, 1 tsp. salt, and 1 tsp. lime zest. Spread shrimp in a single layer on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet; bake 5 minutes or until shrimp are pink and done.

2. Meanwhile, process mint, next 3 ingredients, 1 (5-oz.) package spinach, and remaining 1 1/4 tsp. salt and 1 tsp. lime zest in a food processor until finely chopped. With processor running, pour remaining 1/4 cup oil through chute in a slow, steady stream, processing until combined.

3. Toss remaining 1 (5-oz.) package spinach with warm rice. (Spinach will wilt slightly.) Stir pesto into rice mixture; sprinkle with almonds. Top with shrimp.