Recipe: Cheesy Shrimp Orzo

When we’re in the mood for shrimp and pasta, this recipe is always at the top of my list. It’s fairly healthy and easy to scale the flavor up or down depending on your food mood. We like to add a little heat, too!

I consider this recipe a mash up of several different recipes I’ve tried over the years, so feel free to try it, tweak it and make it your own.

Ingredients

• 2 T olive oil

• 1/2 small onion, diced

• 1/2 T crushed red pepper flakes (optional)

• 2 garlic cloves, chopped

• 1/4 cup white wine

• 1/4 cup heavy cream

• Salt and pepper to taste

• 1/2 to 1 pound raw shrimp, peeled

• 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, quartered

• 1/4 cup frozen peas

• 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, shredded

• 2 cups cooked orzo

Sauté onion and red pepper flakes in olive oil until onion is transparent. Add garlic and sauté another 30 seconds. Add white wine until you see bubbles, then add cream. Salt and pepper shrimp, then add to the pan and cook until done. Add tomatoes and peas. Cook until tomatoes start to break down and peas thaw (only a couple of minutes). Add orzo. Top with parmesan cheese.

Chef Notes

• I like to mix in about 1/4 cup mozzarella into the orzo, but you can’t take it or leave it so I didn’t include it above.

• You can sub chicken for shrimp if you’re not into seafood.

• I also make this without cream quite often. Just use a bit more olive oil or butter.

• If you don’t use red pepper flakes, I suggest using Nature’s Season seasoning blend or something else that will give it some additional flavor.