Saucy Shrimp Orzo Pasta

Creamy and flavorful Shrimp Orzotto with tender shrimp, sweet tomatoes, and silky orzo pasta. A one-pot comforting seafood dish!

📝 Ingredients

• 500 grams (17.6 ounces) whole shrimps (any size you want)
• olive oil
• 300 grams (1 1/2 cups) orzo medium
• 100 grams (1 medium-sized) onion (minced)
• 3 garlic cloves (minced)
• 50 grams (1/2 medium-sized) sweet red pepper (minced)
• 2 teaspoons tomato paste
• 80 ml (1/3 cup) white wine
• 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 1/2 cups grated tomato pulp
• 750 ml (3 cups) hot water or vegetable stock
• fresh minced parsley (to serve with)

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1Prepare the shrimps. Pull and remove the legs. Then remove the middle shells from the body, leaving one shell at the top and one at the bottom to hold the head and the tail. You can remove the heads altogether; however, they contain most of the flavor, which will be released in the sauce.
2. 2Heat a splash of olive oil in a saute pan or medium-sized cooking pot over high heat.
3. 3Sear the shrimp on both sides for 3-4 minutes overall. Remove from the pan and keep aside warm.
4. 4Add another splash of olive oil to the saute pan and drop the heat to medium.
5. 5Saute the onion until soft. Then add the garlic and red pepper.
6. 6Add the tomato paste and cook for a minute, stirring with a wooden spoon. Raise the heat to high.
7. 7Add the orzo and cook for another minute, stirring so it won't stick.
8. 8Pour in the wine. Stir and cook until it drains.
9. 9Stir in the grated tomato, and cook for a minute or two more. Then add the sweet paprika and the thyme. Drop the heat to medium-low (low on a gas stove).
10. 10Pour in the hot water or stock gradually. Begin with 1 cup, stir until it's almost absorbed, then add 1/2 cup, stir until thickened. Continue like this until the orzo is cooked to al dente and the dish looks saucy and glazy. Stir in the shrimp towards the last 3 minutes of cooking. NOTE: You might need slightly more or less water or stock.
11. 11Serve right away (orzotto thickens very quickly, revive with a splash of hot water or stock). Garnish with freshly ground pepper and minced parsley.