Directions

• Make Noodles

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the soba noodles and cook until pasta is cooked, but not mushy. Check the package directions, but this usually takes 4 to 5 minutes. Drain noodles then immediately rinse under cold water until the noodles are no longer hot.

Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a wide skillet over medium-high heat. Add the shrimp in one layer and cook, turning occasionally, until pink, firm, and cooked through; 6 to 8 minutes. Squeeze the juice from half a lemon over the cooked shrimp.

Use a vegetable peeler or mandoline slicer to shave the cucumber lengthwise into thin strips. Or simply chop into bite-size pieces.

Combine the noodles, shrimp, cucumber, and 4 tablespoons of the pesto. Toss well, adding more pesto as necessary. Serve with scallions and fresh basil scattered on top.

• How to Make Pesto

Prepare a small bowl of ice water. Bring a small saucepan, filled halfway with salted water, to a boil. Submerge basil leaves in boiling water for 5 to 10 seconds, or until wilted. Then immediately plunge into ice water to stop cooking. Drain, squeeze to remove excess water then pat dry with a clean dish towel. This step helps to make the greenest pesto possible. By blanching the basil, it makes the leaves bright green. You can skip this step and just add the basil straight into the food processor.

Smash and peel the garlic clove then mince. Holding a chef’s knife at an angle, scrape the blade of the knife across the minced garlic. Gather it all together then scrape it against the board again until it becomes a very fine paste.

Add the garlic and the pine nuts in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse 2 to 3 times until everything is chopped small. Add basil.

With the processor running, slowly pour the olive oil into the bowl. Once all the olive oil has been added, check the consistency of the pesto — we like it to have some texture. If you prefer it smoother, pulse a few more times.

Transfer pesto to a bowl then stir in cheese and season to taste with salt and pepper. Use immediately or store for later.

Store Pesto in the Refrigerator: Add a thin layer of extra olive oil to the top (to prevent any air from getting to it), cover with a lid or plastic wrap and refrigerate up to 2 weeks.

How to Freeze Pesto: If freezing, leave out the cheese. Fill ice cube trays with pesto, freeze until hard. Then store frozen cubes in freezer-safe plastic bags. Freeze up to 1 month.