Author Notes
I have recently begun an obsession with all things Mediterranean. And honestly, if a recipe includes pasta then I definitely want to try it. This is a combination of two recipes I love - Greek spiced baked shrimp and a shrimp dish my mom makes with creamy orzo. I have made this with only goat cheese and only feta and both are excellent. My favorite combination is feta mixed with the creamy orzo and goat cheese crumbled on the top and broiled at the end. I really love goat cheese and when broiled for a few minutes, it gets golden and creamy. The dish comes together quickly - prepare the orzo while the tomato sauce reduces. Then put everything together in your favorite dish and bake! - brooke's kitchen —Plum Pie
Test Kitchen Notes
This recipe results in a wonderful contrast between the spicy, slightly sweet, acidic tomato layer on top, and the creamy baked orzo on the bottom. The top layer was perfect -- it would be terrific on its own over pasta, with some crumbled goat or feta, and a little fresh basil. It smelled fabulous while cooking, and tasted even better. I probably cooked my orzo longer than I should have (and I reduced the pasta water by half to account for that), so the bottom layer ended up wetter than it should have been -- a little less than al dente, when the ends of the orzo just look like they're starting to get pale and cooked, would probably be better. I'd also recommend cooling the orzo with cold water. Once I get the orzo right, this is definitely a meal I would serve for guests. —guineverek
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Ingredients
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1 pound
shrimp, peeled and deveined
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3 tablespoons
olive oil
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8 ounces
orzo (I use whole wheat)
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1
medium yellow onion, diced
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2
garlic cloves, minced
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1/2 cup
white wine
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1
28 oz. can whole peeled tomatoes, chopped roughly
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1/2 teaspoon
crushed red pepper flakes
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1/2 teaspoon
cinnamon
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1/4 teaspoon
allspice
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1
bay leaf
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1 pinch
sugar (optional)
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1 cup
nonfat Greek yogurt
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1/2 cup
feta cheese or 2 oz. goat cheese
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1/4 cup
parmesan cheese, grated
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2 ounces
soft goat cheese
Directions
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Preheat oven to 375.
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In a medium saucepan, heat olive oil until warm. Cook diced yellow onions until soft and translucent, about 5-7 minutes. Add garlic and cook a few minutes longer.
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Add white wine and bring to simmer. Reduce until liquid is almost evaporated, about 3-4 minutes. Add tomatoes with juice, red pepper flakes, cinnamon, allspice, and pinch of sugar. Season with salt and pepper. Simmer until sauce is thickened, about 20-30 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste.
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Cook orzo (I use whole wheat in an attempt to be "healthier") in a large pot of boiling, salted water until al dente. Do not cook completely through as this will bake again in the oven. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water.
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While orzo is cooking, mix greek yogurt, feta, and parmesan cheese. Combine cooked orzo with yogurt cheese mixture. Pour pasta water in 1/4 cup increments to help orzo and cheese/yogurt mixture create a creamy consistency. I usually use all of the pasta water as it needs to be "loose" since it will be baked and thicken.
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Transfer orzo to an 8x8 baking dish (You can also use 8x10). Season shrimp with salt and pepper. Mix shrimp into tomato sauce and take off of the heat heat. Place the shrimp/tomato mixture on top of orzo (I usually place the shrimp on top in an even layer then pour the rest of the tomato sauce on top). Finally, crumble goat cheese on top of the tomato sauce.
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Bake in oven for approximately 10-15 minutes until orzo is warmed, sauce is barely bubbling, shrimp is cooked and goat cheese is soft and melted. Optional: Broil the top for 2-3 minutes until cheese is golden.
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Let dish sit for 5 minutes before serving. Sprinkle with dill or parsley and enjoy!
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