Orzo with Shrimp

Name: Orzo with Shrimp
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 3 servings
Cuisine: Greek
Ingredients: 25 shell-on shrimp (about 450 g); 200 g orzo; 1 onion; 1/4 red bell pepper; 50 ml dry white wine; 80 ml greek-style tomato sauce; 1 bay leaf; 1 pinch ground anise (or 1-2 tablespoons ouzo); 2 sprigs dill; 2 sprigs tarragon; salt, pepper; 2 tablespoons olive oil

July 15, 2015

Pasta Fish and Seafood Meat Dishes Greek

I know I never go wrong with Greek food, so yesterday I quickly prepared a shrimp giouvetsi.

Ingredients

25 shell-on shrimp (about 450 g)
200 g orzo
1 onion
1/4 red bell pepper
50 ml dry white wine
80 ml Greek-style tomato sauce
1 bay leaf
1 pinch ground anise (or 1-2 tablespoons ouzo)
2 sprigs dill
2 sprigs tarragon
salt, pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil

Servings: 3

How to prepare orzo with shrimp

Clean the shrimp of heads and shells. The cleaned shrimp will be used in step 2. Everything you cleaned off the shrimp is washed under cold running water, then placed in a pot together with the bay leaf, a little salt and 700 ml water. Cook on medium heat for 25 minutes. When done, strain and reserve the resulting broth. Basically, this is how you prepare a shrimp broth that will give a pleasant aroma to the orzo.
Meanwhile, heat the oil in a wide pot (about 22-25 cm) and add the shrimp. Fry on one side and the other just until they change color to pink. Remove from the pot.
Chop the pepper and onion into small cubes. Sauté on low heat in the olive oil until softened.
Deglaze with wine and let it simmer on medium heat until almost evaporated.
Add the tomato sauce, anise and 500 ml shrimp broth. Add salt and black pepper to taste.
Add orzo and shake the pot well to settle evenly.
Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and cook covered for 15 minutes. During this time, shake the pan about 2 times so the orzo doesn't stick to the bottom.
After this time the orzo should be cooked and have a little sauce left. Remove the lid and let it simmer very gently while you do the next steps.
Chop the herbs and add them (reserve some for garnish) over the orzo. Mix gently. Adjust for salt.
Place the shrimp on top and sprinkle the reserved herbs over them.
Turn off the heat and put the lid on the pot. Let it sit for at least 5 minutes.
* if you have leftover shrimp broth you can keep it in the refrigerator because it can be used when you want to reheat the dish; the dish is best immediately after it's done, because after cooling the orzo pasta will absorb the sauce; so when reheating (covered) add a little broth and keep the heat low; this way the dish will rehydrate.