Shrimp Orzo Salad Recipe

Healthy, protein-rich, and easy to cook, this shrimp orzo salad is excellent for summer. Fresh, crisp greens and juicy prawns top tangy Italian balsamic orzo. Grill or bake shrimp!  

INGREDIENTS

Italian Balsamic Dressing – 6 tbsp extra virgin olive oil – 3 tbsp balsamic vinegar – ½ tbsp Dijon mustard – 1 tbsp water – 1 ½ tsp Italian seasoning, or to taste – ½ tsp salt, or to taste – ¼ tsp pepper, or to taste The Shrimp + Salad – 1 pound shrimp, peeled & deveined – 1 small garlic clove, grated or minced – 1 ¾ cups dry orzo – 1 English cucumber, chopped – 1 red bell pepper, de-seeded & chopped – 1-2 cups fresh arugula – Parsley for serving

INSTRUCTIONS

Boil a big saucepan of water with 1 tsp salt. Cook orzo per package instructions. Put it in a big bowl and refrigerate to chill. It's faster to rinse with cold water, but it may lose salt and flavor.  

Step 1

Emulsify the dressing by whisking olive oil, balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, water, and Italian seasoning. Set aside.  

Step 2

Preheat grill or oven to high or 400°F. Grilling with wooden skewers? Soak them now. Pat peeled, deveined shrimp dry with paper towels.   

Step 3

In a ziplock bag or bowl, marinate the shrimp with half the sauce and minced garlic. Leave some dressing for the orzo. Marinate the shrimp in the fridge for 20–60 minutes.  

Step 4

While the oven or grill heats up, chop the pepper, cucumber, and parsley. Salad: Mix the orzo with the vegetables and arugula when it cools.  

Step 5

Tossing the salad wilts the arugula. If the orzo clings together, add water or saved dressing to separate it while tossing. Pour in the reserved dressing and toss again.  

Step 6

Bake shrimp on a non-stick baking sheet for 5-7 minutes until pink and cooked through (avoid overcooking).  

Step 7

Grilling Shrimp: Put 5–6 shrimp on each skewer. Grill the shrimp skewers 2-3 minutes per side until done. grill pan-grilled shrimp  

Step 8

Add cooked shrimp to chilled salad and serve immediately. You can add extra dressing and garnish with parsley.  

Step 9

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