Description
Zesty Tuscan shrimp and orzo skillet brings Mediterranean flavors to dinner tables with rich, creamy textures. Home cooks can savor this quick Italian-inspired meal packed with succulent shrimp, sun-dried tomatoes, and parmesan cheese.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lbs large shrimp, peeled, deveined, and thawed if frozen
- 1 oz (28 g) Parmesan cheese, freshly grated (about ½ cup packed), plus more for serving
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ cup oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, drained and thinly sliced
- 5 oz (142 g) baby spinach (about 5 packed cups)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 lbs (454 g) dried orzo pasta
- 3 cups low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
- 2 cups whole or 2% milk
- 1 ½ tsp kosher salt
- 2 tsp dried Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Sauté Foundation: Heat Dutch oven with olive oil, creating a flavorful base for the culinary masterpiece.
- Aromatic Preparation: Add onions and garlic, gently coaxing them to translucent perfection while releasing their rich fragrance.
- Flavor Infusion: Introduce sun-dried tomatoes, orzo, Italian seasoning, black pepper, and kosher salt, allowing the ingredients to meld and intensify their collective essence.
- Liquid Integration: Pour broth and milk into the mixture, bringing to a vigorous boil before reducing to a gentle simmer, stirring consistently to prevent any potential scorching.
- Protein and Greens Incorporation: Gently nestle shrimp into the creamy orzo, folding in Parmesan and spinach, continuing to cook until shrimp turn opaque and spinach wilts.
- Final Refinement: Adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper, ensuring a balanced and harmonious flavor profile that celebrates the dish’s Mediterranean inspiration.
- Garnish Finale: Sprinkle extra Parmesan cheese over the top, creating a luxurious finishing touch that elevates the entire culinary experience.
Notes
- Prevent Sticking: Stir orzo constantly during simmering to avoid bottom burning and ensure even, creamy texture.
- Shrimp Doneness: Cook shrimp until they turn opaque and slightly curl, typically 2-3 minutes, to maintain tender, juicy quality without overcooking.
- Liquid Ratio Matters: Maintain precise broth and milk proportions to achieve perfect orzo consistency – too little liquid creates dry pasta, too much creates soupy result.
- Cheese Integration: Add Parmesan gradually and off heat to prevent separation, creating smooth, silky sauce that coats ingredients evenly.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 490
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 650 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 70 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 150 mg