Shrimp and Orzo in a Garlicky Tomato Sauce
This easy recipe is just my kind of "unfussy" Mediterranean dinner, with big garlicky flavor in just 30 minutes! Make on repeat, and feel free to use thawed frozen shrimp if you have them on hand.
Servings: 4
Ingredients
- Kosher salt
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 2 shallots, thinly sliced
- 8 garlic cloves, chopped
- 1/2 cup dry white wine
- 1 lemon, juiced, plus lemon slices for serving
- 1 (14 ounce) can diced tomatoes
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 1/2 cup orzo
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- Cayenne pepper (to taste)
- 1 1/2 pounds prawns or large shrimp (18-20 shrimp), peeled, deveined, and rinsed
- 4-6 ounces baby spinach
- Freshly chopped herbs, for garnish (like mint, parsley, and/or cilantro, optional)
Instructions
- Get ready. Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Meanwhile, make the garlic-tomato sauce. Heat the olive oil and butter in a large heavy skillet over medium-high. When the butter has melted, add the shallots and saute for 3 minutes or so, then add the garlic and toss together until fragrant. Now add the white wine and cook for 1 minute. Add the lemon juice, canned tomatoes, and water. Bring to a boil, then turn the heat to medium. Cook for 15 more minutes on medium heat, stirring occasionally.
- Season the garlic-tomato sauce. Stir in 1 tablespoon of dried thyme, a pinch of salt, and a pinch of cayenne pepper to your taste.
- Cook the orzo. Add the orzo to the boiling salted water and cook, stirring occasionally, until al dente according to the package instructions. Drain and transfer to your serving dish.
- Meanwhile, poach the shrimp. Add the shrimp to the garlic-tomato sauce and stir so that it’s nicely coated in the sauce. Cook just until the shrimp turns pink, about 5 minutes. Take care to not over cook the shrimp!
- Finish and serve. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the spinach to wilt. Top the orzo with the garlic tomato shrimp. Garnish with your favorite herb (optional) and serve immediately with lemon slices. Enjoy!
Notes
- Shop this recipe: Visit our shop to browse quality Mediterranean ingredients including the olive oil, cumin, and Aleppo pepper used in this recipe.
- For tips on sourcing, storing, and cleaning shrimp, see our Guide to Buying and Cooking Shrimp.
- If you avoid wine, simply replace with chicken, seafood, or vegetable broth/stock and add more lemon juice to taste.
Nutrition
Calories: 490.9kcal | Carbohydrates: 56.1g | Protein: 33.1g | Fat: 12.8g | Saturated Fat: 3.2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1.5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6.1g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 221.8mg | Sodium: 1159.2mg | Potassium: 789.7mg | Fiber: 4.8g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 3184.5IU | Vitamin C: 34.5mg | Calcium: 194.2mg | Iron: 3.7mg
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