How about an easy garlic-tomato shrimp recipe?! Just my kind of "unfussy" Mediterranean dinner!
Since my family moved to the Atlanta area, more than two months ago, we’ve lived out of one suitcase with a few items of clothing, in the confines of a humble 400 square-foot hotel room. And my "kitchen?" A hot burner; a compact two-slice toaster; and a sink.
But living in the absence of excess has given me a unique gift: the gift of less. A special appreciation for the word "lean."
With that, came more time with family--thanks to far fewer chores.
The gift of less also gave way to a remarkable focus.
And not that I was ever a fancy cook, but in the matter of feeding my loved ones, it feels that I have been given permission to celebrate simple and "unfussy" meals. Quick and one-skillet dinners like today’s tomato-garlic shrimp recipe atop simple orzo pasta.
Saucy shrimp recipe with orzo. Nothing better!
Diced tomatoes (yes, out of a can) combined with lots of garlic; shallots; white wine and lemon juice makes a simple sauce in which the shrimp bathes. And just as you expect of pasta, here orzo serves as the perfect bed for the glorious shrimp (or prawns if you want to be technical).
Will my family live in a hotel room for much longer? Who knows! But the experience will be cherished; so will all the recipes created in my current (less than) kitchen.
For it all, I am grateful.
Here is the step by step for this simple Garlic-Tomato Shrimp Recipe
(scroll down for recipe)
Cook the orzo pasta in boiling water according to package instructions; add a dash of salt and olive oil to the cooking water. When the pasta cooks to al dante, remove from the heat, then drain and transfer to a serving dish.
While the pasta cooks, heat the butter with 2 tablespoon of olive oil in a large heavy skillet. Saute the shallots on medium-high heat for 3 minutes or so, then add the garlic and toss together briefly. Now add the white wine and cook for 1 minute then add the lemon juice, ½ cup water, and diced tomatoes. Bring to a boil; reduce the heat to medium. Cook for 15 more minutes on medium heat, stirring occasionally. Stir in 1 teaspoon of dried thyme, a pinch of salt and a little cayenne pepper to your taste.
Add the shrimp and cook for 5 minutes or until the shrimp turns pink. Stir occasionally so that the shrimp is nicely coated in the sauce. Do not over cook the shrimp. Finally, stir in the spinach and remove from the heat.
Top the the cooked orzo pasta with the garlic-tomato shrimp. Garnish with your favorite herb (optional) and serve immediately with some lemon slices.Enjoy!
Garlic-Tomato Shrimp Recipe with Orzo
- Total Time: 42 minutes
- Yield: serves 4
Description
How about an easy garlic-tomato shrimp recipe?! Just my kind of "unfussy" Mediterranean dinner!
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cup orzo pasta
- Water
- Salt
- Private Reserve Greek extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tbsp butter
- 2 shallots, thinly sliced
- 8 garlic cloves, chopped
- ½ cup dry white wine
- 1 Meyer lemon, juice of
- 1 14-oz canned diced tomatoes
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- Cayenne pepper
- 1 ½ lb prawns or large shrimp (18-20 shrimp), peeled, deveined and well-cleaned
- 4-6 oz baby spinach
- lemon slices (optional)
Instructions
- Cook the orzo pasta in boiling water according to package instructions; add a dash of salt and olive oil to the cooking water. When the pasta cooks to al dante, remove from the heat then drain and transfer to a serving dish.
- While the pasta cooks, heat the butter with 2 tablespoon of olive oil in a large heavy skillet. Saute the shallots on medium-high heat for 3 minutes or so then add the garlic and toss together briefly. Now add the white wine and cook for 1 minute then add the lemon juice, ½ cup water, and diced tomatoes. Bring to a boil then reduce the heat to medium. Cook for 15 more minutes on medium heat, stirring occasionally.
- Stir in 1 teaspoon of dried thyme, a pinch of salt and a little cayenne pepper to your taste.
- Add the shrimp and cook for 5 minutes or until the shrimp turns pink. Stir occasionally so that the shrimp is nicely coated in the sauce. Do not over cook the shrimp.
- Finally, stir in the spinach and remove from the heat.
- Top the the cooked orzo pasta with the garlic tomato shrimp. Garnish with your favorite herb (optional) and serve immediately with lemon slices. Enjoy!
Notes
- Recommended for this Recipe: Our Private Reserve Greek extra virgin olive oil (from organically grown and processed Koroneiki olives!)
- Visit our store to browse our spices, olive oils and bundles!
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 27 mins
- Category: Entree
- Method: Stove top
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
great recipes, like this cooking, I used white rise with pine nuts and cinnamon excelente flavor
Great! glad you enjoyed it!
Dear Suzy, already over 1 year I really enjoy your recipes very much. They are so creative and inspirational. Cooking is one of my big hobbies more than half of century and all my friends and members of family know I am excellent cook but still I all the time learn new things. Even I collect recipes since middle of 1960' I enriched my menu also thanks to you. Cuisines of Mediterranean, Balkan and Middle East locations are ones of my favorite. Your situation in hotel (whenever it was) is the same as mine now. Since May my partner and me have been in hotel in California and on top of it five times we had to move. Now finally at least I have a kitchenette so I can cook every day and it's not so difficult as in the beginning. Actually it's so challenging and I appreciate my new experiences. Thank you so much for your emails with your delicious recipes. I hope you understand my English because I am originally from Czech Republic.
Thank you so much for sharing, Hana! I understood your English perfectly. And I'm glad the recipes here have been helpful to you.
Hi Suzy, thank you so much for your quick reply. I admire your vitality and energy. I believe you have to be very busy women and still you found time for me. Thank you once again.
Hi Suzy! Another one of your amazing recipes! Super easy, with items i usually have on hand. So flavorful! This will be one of my favorite go-to meals.
Everyone - try this is you haven't already!
That must be so challenging being based in a hotel. You are very talented to create such an amazing dish with such limited resources! Your Garlic-Tomato Shrimp looks amazing!
Dear Suzy, this sounds perfect to me. I love a light, fresh meal that can be thrown together during the week. My family would love this vibrant platter. Pinned for later. xo, Catherine
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Looks and sounds delicious!
It really is Patty! Thanks so much for the kind comment
I want to dive face first into this dish. I only wish my family would eat shrimp!
Suzy, what a perfect dish. The colors and the flavor. Yum.
Simply gorgeous Suzy, I want to dive right in!!
This looks dee-lish!
Thank you! Super simple to make!
I love this easy weeknight meal idea! Looks fabulous!
Easy indeed! Thank you, Debi!
Orzo is my favorite pasta shape. And, easy? Count me in for this lovely dish!
Looks fantastic, amazing flavors!
Thank you Florian! Appreciate u stopping in!
This looks beautiful! Amazing flavors!
I'm vegan ... until I see some of your recipes!!
I'm not neurotic about it and do occasionally
enjoy a special meal. I eat clean for health reasons.
Vicki, you are so kind! I am glad you're finding some special recipes here. There are a bunch of vegan ones...or ones you can veganize too! Happy weekend!