Add your favorite salad and call it dinner! I can’t count the number of times a bag of frozen shrimp came to my rescue for dinner! From shrimp soup, to grilled skewers, a bright shrimp pasta, and even a twist on paella–so many options. This one pan shrimp and rice recipe is another way to use shrimp in a satisfying dinner that’s perfect any night of the week. I think of it as a healthier, Mediterranean take on “shrimp fried rice,” using chopped veggies, garlic, and fresh parsley. It takes just over 30 minutes start-to-finish. And in the few minutes the pan of shrimp rice is cooking, make your favorite salad to complete the dinner.
Ingredients & Prep
Rice- I used 2 cups of Basmati rice. Basmati rice is long-grained and very aromatic with a light nutty flavor. You can use a different long grain rice or brown rice (tips & notes below)Extra virgin olive oil- About 3 tablespoon to saute the veggies and coat the rice. (I used Private Reserve Greek extra virgin olive oil)Chopped vegetables & herbs– 1 cup each chopped red onion and chopped red bell pepper. 2 minced garlic cloves. And a packed 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley (chop the stems too, they add a ton of flavor). Together, chopped vegetables and spices (listed below) are sauteed in extra virgin olive oil to begin the flavoring process for this shrimp and rice dish.Frozen peas- 1 cup frozen peas. Simply give the frozen peas a quick rinse so they separate. Don’t worry about thawing them all the way through, they have enough time to cook.Spices- A combination of warm and fragrant Eastern Mediterranean spices including 1 teaspoon ground coriander, 1/2 teaspoon cumin, 1/2 teaspoon sweet paprika, and a hint of ground turmeric. And I use about 1 teaspoon of Aleppo-style pepper which is not spicy but does offer a bit of a kick with sweet undertones. (Find all the spices I use at our online shop here). If you must substitute the Aleppo pepper, you can try another mild chile powder + a very small amount of cayenne or red pepper flakes.Shrimp- about 1 pound of large uncooked shrimp, peeled and deveined. If you are using frozen shrimp, be sure to thaw it properly before using in this recipe. For quick thawing, take the shrimp out of its package, put it in a bowl of cold water and place it in your sink. Allow a very small drizzle of cold water from your faucet to run into the bow (it should take no longer than 15 minutes to thaw).Water- 2 1/2 cups water
In this lighter Mediterranean version of “shrimp fried rice” it is important to cook the rice properly and to infuse it with good flavor from the start. The perfect cooked rice is soft and fluffy and the grains should not be chewy nor too sticky, they should be separated.
Important tips for this shrimp and rice recipe
How to make this healthy shrimp and rice
Can I use long grain white rice or brown rice in this recipe?
If you don’t have basmati rice, you can easily substituent for white long grain rice. You many need to soak the rice for a little bit longer, but once you’re able to break a grain of rice very easily, it’s ready to cook. Follow the recipe from there. How to make shrimp and rice step-by-step (print-friendly recipe below) Brown rice substitution is not as straightforward, but it is still possible. To use brown rice, soak the rice in plenty of water for at least 90 minutes (test to be sure you can break a grain of rice easily). It’s possible to soak brown rice overnight (I haven’t personally tried that). Brown rice generally takes a bit more water to cook and a few extra minutes. If you soak it though, you can add a little bit more water (1/2 cup or so) and budget a few extra minutes for it to fully cook (at least 15 more minutes).
The first time you make this recipe with brown rice, it may take a bit of tinkering because it is not a straightforward substitution.
Other shrimp recipes to try:
Creamy Shrimp Risotto Shrimp Fra Diavolo Shrimp Pasta You may also enjoy 50+ Top Mediterranean diet recipes. For all recipes, visit us here. 4.7 from 43 reviews You’ll love this simple and healthy shrimp and rice recipe, prepared Mediterranean-style with peas, chopped veggies, and a few spices.
Add your favorite salad and call it dinner!
