One-Pot Orzo With Shrimp, Tomato and Feta

Updated March 3, 2021

One-Pot Orzo With Shrimp, Tomato and Feta
David Malosh for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews.
Total Time
35 minutes
Rating
4(1,712)
Comments
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Inspired by a Greek appetizer, shrimp saganaki, this one-pot recipe adds orzo and grape tomatoes to make a complete meal. Blistering the grape tomatoes coaxes out their natural sweetness, which pairs well with the salty feta. For a vegetarian version, skip the shrimp and stir in some spinach or arugula at the end. Warm up leftovers by adding a splash of water to loosen the sauce, then drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with crumbled feta.

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Ingredients

Yield:4 servings
  • 3large garlic cloves, grated or minced (about 1½ teaspoons)
  • 4tablespoons olive oil
  • 2teaspoons dried oregano
  • teaspoons red-pepper flakes, plus more for serving
  • Kosher salt and black pepper
  • 1pound shrimp, peeled, deveined and patted dry
  • 1pint grape or cherry tomatoes
  • 1cup orzo
  • 1(28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
  • ½cup crumbled feta
  • ½cup roughly chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves and fine stems
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (4 servings)

452 calories; 19 grams fat; 5 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 11 grams monounsaturated fat; 2 grams polyunsaturated fat; 41 grams carbohydrates; 7 grams dietary fiber; 12 grams sugars; 33 grams protein; 1090 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    In a mixing bowl, combine half the garlic with 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, 1 teaspoon red-pepper flakes and 1 teaspoon salt. Add the shrimp, coating it well.

  2. Step 2

    In a large Dutch oven or heavy skillet with a tight-fitting lid, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons oil over medium. Add the tomatoes, season with salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until they start to blister, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the remaining garlic, 1 teaspoon oregano and ½ teaspoon red-pepper flakes, and stir until fragrant, about 30 seconds.

  3. Step 3

    Add the orzo, stirring until lightly toasted, about 1 minute, then add the crushed tomatoes and 1 cup water. Season with salt, and use a wooden spoon to scrape up anything stuck on the bottom.

  4. Step 4

    Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Cover and cook until just shy of al dente, stirring occasionally to make sure nothing is sticking to the bottom, about 10 minutes. Add the marinated shrimp on top, cover and cook until they are cooked through and the orzo is al dente, 4 to 6 minutes more.

  5. Step 5

    Remove from the heat, divide among plates and finish with black pepper, feta and parsley. Serve with more red-pepper flakes, if desired.

Ratings

4 out of 5
1,712 user ratings
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Comments

This was just fine to me but not worth a repeat. I tried it bc I love orzo and had a bunch of feta in the fridge. Decent flavor but very very tomatoey and too saucy for the orzo. I followed the directions to a T and it ended up feeling like it was just mostly tomato sauce. Maybe try with a more robust pasta like rigatoni or fusilli. Agree with another reviewer that it didn’t feel like a complete meal. The shrimp felt lost in the sauce.

We loved this! I doubled the garlic in both steps, used vegetable stock instead of water, and just before the shrimp was done I removed the lid, added the feta and threw under the broiler for a minute or two to finish. Came out wonderful.

Don't add water. Others have recommended stock, and that sounds good. I added a can of tomato sauce in addition to the crushed tomato, and it was very rich.

Not enough orzo. Orzo kept sticking to the bottom of the pot. Meh.

Can I use frozen u cooked shrimp?

Firstly, Greeks don’t make it this way - we toast the orzo before anything, sauté in olive oil, onions or shallots, and garlic (like a pilaf) then add dried oregano to bloom, and cook in stock. Next, I throw in a 14 oz can of whole tomatoes OR cherry/grape tomatoes to blister them in the sauté. Finally, top with shrimp (marinated in olive oil, baking soda, red pepper flakes) and feta, and put it under the broiler to finish cooking. That’s my yiayia’s recipe.

@Karen Lynn This was much better than the recipe as written. I wonder whether the recipe was tested. Also, the amount of pepper flakes was far too much .

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