Name: Creamy Prawn Orzo
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 2 tbsp butter (unsalted); 1 onion (grated or very finely chopped); 3 garlic cloves (minced); 1 cup (200g) orzo; 1 tsp salt; ½ tsp ground black pepper; pinch sugar; pinch chilli flakes; 1 bay leaf; ¼ cup (60ml) white wine (or vermouth); 3 large tomatoes (chopped); 2 cups (500ml) vegetable stock (use bouillon powder or a stock cube); 1 lb (450g) raw shrimp (shelled and deveined); 1 lemon (zest only); 2 tbsp capers; 3 tbsp flat leaf parsley (finely chopped)

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This easy prawn przp dish combines all my favorite fresh flavors, cooks in one pot and is ready in about 20 minutes. Needless to say I LOVE IT!! It’s perfect for a quick lunch or dinner and currently on repeat in our house 🙂

Orzo is commonly used in Greek recipes – I grew up eating it on the regular. This small barley-shaped pasta is cooked in the sauce so it absorbs all the yumminess while saving you on washing up.

The starch in orzo lends creaminess to this shrimp recipe without the addition of any cream. If you like risotto then think of this as orzotto!

Prawn Orzo Grocery List

A Chef’s pan with a lid is ideal for this recipe. I use mine constantly to make one-pot dishes! I kept this recipe quite simple but you can add more vegetables, like peppers or zucchini, if you like.

Butter
Onion and garlic
Fresh tomatoes
White wine or vermouth
Orzo
Salt, pepper, pinch sugar, dried chilli flakes and bay leaf
Vegetable stock (I used bouillon powder)
Raw shrimp, thawed if frozen
Lemon zest
Capers
Parsley

How to Make Prawn Orzo

↓ For the full ingredients and detailed method, jump to the recipe card.

Melt the butter in a large pan over high heat. Lower the heat when it is foaming and add the onion. Cook, stirring, until softened.

Add the garlic and continue to cook for a couple of minutes. Stir in the orzo and cook so that it is coated in the butter. Add the seasonings, bay leaf and the wine. Cook until the aroma of the wine disappears and the liquid is absorbed.

Cooking onion and garlic in a pan with orzo

Stir in the tomatoes, add the hot stock and bring to a rolling simmer. Lower the heat, cover the pan and cook for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Add the shrimp and lemon zest and stir to combine. Cover the pan and cook until the shrimp turn pink, a few minutes.

Discard the bay leaf. Stir in the parsley and capers and taste, adjusting the seasoning as needed. Serve immediately!

Orzo with shrimp, tomatoes, capers, parsley in a pan

Recipe Tips

Brown the butter before adding the onion and orzo to add even more flavour to this already delicious dish!
Frozen shrimp (prawns) are cheaper and easier to source. Soak them in cold water, rinsing a few times, until they defrost before using.
This recipe is slimming-friendly if you replace the butter with a low-calorie cooking spray.

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