Description
Mediterranean shrimp orzo delivers a quick, satisfying meal packed with fresh herbs and zesty lemon. Succulent shrimp nestled among pasta create a simple dinner you can savor in less than half an hour.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (454 grams) large raw shrimp, peeled and deveined (16 or 20 count per pound)
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) orzo, uncooked
- 2 cups (480 milliliters) chicken stock
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) heavy cream
- 4 oz (113 grams) fresh spinach
- 14 oz (397 grams) artichoke hearts, drained and chopped (1 can or about 1 cup)
- ⅓ cup (80 milliliters) sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsps (30 milliliters) olive oil
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp Italian seasoning (thyme, basil, oregano, rosemary)
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Season Preparation: Lavishly coat shrimp with smoked paprika, Italian seasoning, kosher salt, and freshly cracked black pepper.
- Searing Shrimp: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, then swiftly sear seasoned shrimp and minced garlic for 2 minutes per side until they turn opaque, working in batches to ensure proper caramelization.
- Orzo Foundation: Without cleaning the skillet, toast chopped sun-dried tomatoes and uncooked orzo with additional olive oil for 2 minutes until lightly golden and aromatic.
- Liquid Infusion: Pour chicken stock into the skillet, bring to a rolling boil, then reduce heat and simmer orzo for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally until achieving al dente texture.
- Creamy Integration: Fold in fresh spinach leaves, quartered artichoke hearts, and heavy cream, allowing spinach to wilt and cream to blend seamlessly while reintroducing the seared shrimp.
- Final Refinement: Conduct a taste assessment, adjusting seasonings with salt, paprika, or black pepper to elevate the dish’s overall flavor profile, ensuring a harmonious and delectable one-pan meal.
Notes
- Maximize Shrimp Flavor: Generously season shrimp before cooking to create a robust, deeply flavored base that elevates the entire dish.
- Perfect Searing Technique: Cook shrimp in batches to ensure proper caramelization and prevent steaming, which maintains the ideal texture and prevents rubbery consistency.
- Orzo Toasting Trick: Toasting orzo before adding liquid develops a nutty, rich flavor and helps prevent a mushy final texture.
- Cream Integration Hack: Add cream and spinach at the end to maintain vibrant color and prevent overcooking, ensuring a fresh, silky finish to the dish.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 636
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 792 mg
- Fat: 34 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 55 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 205 mg