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 tbsp 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, 1/2 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 tsp 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!
More Recipes to Try
Easy Mediterranean Skillet Shrimp 4.8 from 6 reviews Skillet Garlic Dijon Chicken Balela Salad Recipe Chicken Arugula Salad with Ginger Pomegranate Dressing
