Calabrian Shrimp and Orzo

Calabrian Shrimp and Orzo

This quick and easy dish was in our Blue Apron box this week, and I wanted to share it and it’s fabulous and so simple to make in less than 15-20 minutes. This recipe pairs tender orzo and shrimp super flavorful from lemon, garlic and Calabrian chili paste.

Photo by Blue Apron

Ingredients:

  • ¾ pound shrimp (peeled, deveined, tails removed)
  • 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
  • 1 Tbsp. capers
  • 1  tsp. Calabrian chili paste
  • 1 tsp. olive oil, divided
  • 4 ounces orzo
  • 1 medium zucchini, halved lengthwise and thinly slice crosswise
  • 2 Tbsp. crème fraîche
  • Lemon, quartered and seeded
  • ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Calabrian Shrimp and Orzo
Photo by Blue Apron

Directions:

  1. Pat the shrimp dry with paper towels and place in a medium bowl with the chopped garlic, capers, as much of the chili paste as you’d like, depending on how spicy you’d like the dish to be (we used ½ the teaspoon), ½ teaspoon olive oil and a pinch of salt and pepper. Stir to combine, set aside.
  2. Bring a medium pot of water to a boil over high heat. Add the orzo to the boiling water and cook for 8 minutes. Drain and return the orzo to the pan to keep warm under cover.
  3. While the orzo is cooking, heat remaining ½ teaspoon of olive oil on medium-high until hot in a large nonstick sauté pan. Add the sliced zucchini in an even layer and cook, without stirring, 2 to 3 minutes, or until lightly browned. Move the zucchini to one side of the pan. Add the prepared shrimp in an even layer to the other side of the pan and cook, without stirring, 2 to 3 minutes, or until slightly opaque. Continue to cook, stirring the zucchini and shrimp together, 1 to 2 minutes, or until the shrimp are opaque and cooked through. Turn off the heat.
  4. To the pot of cooked orzo, add the cooked shrimp and zucchini, crème fraîche and the juice of 2 lemon wedges. Stir to combine.
  5. Taste, then season with salt and pepper, if desired. Serve the finished shrimp and orzo with the cheese and remaining lemon wedges.

Serves two.

Easy Shrimp and Grits

Easy Shrimp and Grits

I returned from being on the road for work for nearly a week and the first thing I did when I got home was to get in the kitchen to fix myself some lunch! I miss my kitchen when I’m away (yeah, I know, rough life eating at top restaurants and getting room service) – eating out gets old fast!

Today when I got back from Boston (such a great food town by the way), I made myself a comforting bowl of grits topped with spicy sautéed shrimps. Such yumminess and comfort in a bowl.

I used my Easy Cheesy White Grits recipe and topped that deliciousness with buttery, spicy sauteed shrimps – fabulous!

Ingredients:

  • 3 Tbsp. butter
  • 4 bacon strips, finely chopped OR ¼ cup finely diced pancetta
  • 1 garlic clove, finely minced
  • 2 Tbsp. hot sauce, I used Frank’s Red Hot
  • 12 large shrimps, peeled and deveined, tails removed
  • Easy Cheesy White Grits recipe

Directions:

  1. In a large sauté pan over medium-high heat, melt the butter.
  2. Add the bacon or pancetta to the butter and sauté for 3-4 minutes, until just browned.
  3. Add the garlic to the bacon and cook for a minute, stirring frequently.
  4. Add the hot sauce to the buttery mixture and stir to combine all the ingredients.
  5. Add the shrimps and sauté until cooked, about 2 minutes per side.
  6. Divide the grits between two bowls and top with the shrimps and the sauce.

Makes two servings.

Easy Shrimp Scampi

Easy Shrimp Scampi

Updated January 17, 2022

The other night, the fridge was sort of bare but I had a pound of large shrimp so decided to use a few pantry ingredients to make a quick shrimp scampi.

I like to use elephant garlic as it’s milder than standard garlic and won’t completely overpower this dish. I’d say if you’re calorie-conscious and trying to not use all the butter listed in this recipe, don’t really bother with this one – it’s meant to be an indulgence!

I served the dish with a half of a pound of cooked linguini that I tossed in the sauce at the last minute. Would be good with rice or just steamed vegetables also.

Ingredients:

  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 elephant garlic clove (or 8 regular garlic cloves), minced
  • 1 pound large-jumbo shrimps, peeled and deveined
  • Juice of 2 lemons, about ¼ cup
  • ½ cup clam juice or vegetable/chicken broth
  • Dash of Worcestershire sauce
  • ½ tsp. paprika
  • ¼ cup Italian breadcrumbs
  • 2 Tbsp. olive oil
  • ½ tsp. each salt and freshly-ground black pepper

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to broil.
  2. Melt butter in a medium ovenproof skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and cook, stirring, until lightly golden, 3 – 4 minutes. Add shrimps and cook until well coated with butter and garlic, 1 to 2 minutes. Add lemon juice, clam juice (or broth) and Worcestershire sauce. Bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 2 minutes.
  3. Uncover the skillet and sprinkle the shrimps with paprika. Transfer skillet to broiler and broil until shrimps are lightly browned and cooked through, 5 minutes.
  4. Remove skillet from broiler, top with breadcrumbs and drizzle with oil. Return skillet to broiler and broil until breadcrumbs are lightly browned, about 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper; serve immediately.

Serves 2 as entrees or 4 as starters.

Recipe adapted from this Martha Stewart recipe.