Description
This Parmesan Roasted Red Pepper Orzo with Garlic Shrimp and Lemon-Butter Swirl is a comforting and flavorful pasta dish. It combines sweet roasted red peppers, rich Parmesan, succulent garlic shrimp, and a bright lemon-butter finish for a restaurant-quality meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 250 g (2 cups) Orzo Pasta
- 500 g (1 lb) Raw Shrimp, Peeled and Deveined
- 2 tbsp (30 ml) Olive Oil
- 2 tbsp (30 g) Unsalted Butter, Divided
- 3 cloves Garlic, Minced
- 1 small Onion, Finely Diced
- 200 g (7 oz) Roasted Red Pepper Puree (about 1 cup)
- 1 tsp (2 g) Smoked Paprika
- 120 ml (½ cup) Heavy Cream
- 60 g (2 oz) Grated Parmesan Cheese
- Zest of 1 Lemon
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) Fresh Lemon Juice
- ½ tsp (2.5 g) Salt, plus more to taste
- ¼ tsp (1 g) Freshly Ground Black Pepper
- 2 tbsp (30 g) Toasted Pine Nuts
- 2 tbsp (8 g) Chopped Fresh Parsley
Instructions
- Cook the Orzo: Boil orzo until al dente, then drain.
- Sear the Shrimp: Sear shrimp in olive oil until pink and opaque.
- Sauté Aromatics: Sauté onion and garlic in butter until fragrant.
- Build the Sauce: Stir in roasted red pepper puree and smoked paprika; simmer.
- Create Creamy Sauce: Add heavy cream, Parmesan, lemon zest, and juice; whisk until smooth.
- Combine and Swirl: Toss orzo with sauce and swirl in remaining butter.
- Finish and Serve: Fold in shrimp, season, and garnish with pine nuts and parsley.
Notes
For a richer sauce, use high-quality Parmesan cheese and don’t overcook the shrimp. Toasting pine nuts enhances their flavor.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Pasta
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 550 kcal
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 60 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 150 mg
Keywords: pasta, shrimp, orzo, parmesan, roasted red pepper, lemon, garlic, creamy, italian, weeknight dinner