Mediterranean · main

Lemon Garlic Shrimp Orzo

Lemon Garlic Shrimp Orzo reads umami 7.5, richness 5.4 and citrus 5.4 on Palate's 0–10 flavor X-ray — a Mediterranean main, about 27 min. Measured from the recipe itself: ingredients and technique.

The flavor X-ray — six axes, 0–10

• Umami & Savory — 8.7 / 10
• Sweet & Fruity — 5.1 / 10
• Sour & Bright — 6.9 / 10
• Bitter & Earthy — 1.4 / 10
• Rich & Fat — 6.0 / 10
• Aromatic & Spice — 4.4 / 10

The measured notes (of 18)

Umami 7.5 · Richness 5.4 · Citrus 5.4 · Salinity 5.4 · Sourness 4.8 · Fruity 4.4 · Marine & Briny 4.4 · Allium 4.0 · Funk & Ferment 2.4 · Sweetness 2.2 · Herbaceous 2.1 · Nutty 1.8 · Floral 1.6 · Earthy 1.2 · Warm Spice 1.2 · Bitterness 1.1

What's in it (14)

• shrimp — 454 g
• salt — 5 g
• freshly ground black pepper — 3 g
• olive oil — 27 g
• unsalted butter — 41 g
• yellow onion — 110 g
• garlic — 12 g
• orzo pasta — 355 g
• dry white wine — 118 g
• low-salt chicken broth — 946 g
• lemon — 65 g
• baby spinach — 237 g
• parmesan cheese — 38 g
• parsley — 7 g

Time & effort: about 27 min · effort: involved

Nutrition (per 100 g, engine-estimated): 91.1 kcal, 6.5 g protein, 2.5 g fat, 13 g carbs

Dietary: Contains meat · Contains seafood · Contains dairy — engine-derived; double-check anything allergy-critical.

How it's cooked (12 steps)

1. Pat the shrimp dry and season with 1/2 teaspoon of the salt and 1/4 teaspoon of the pepper.
2. Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a large, deep skillet or wide pot over high heat. Sear the shrimp in a single layer until pink and opaque with lightly browned edges, 1-2 minutes per side, until they reach 145°F.
3. Transfer the shrimp to a plate; they'll finish cooking later off the direct heat.
4. Reduce the heat to medium, add 1 tablespoon of the butter and the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil to the same pot, and cook the onion, stirring occasionally, until softened and translucent, 4-5 minutes.
5. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
6. Add the orzo and toast, stirring constantly, until the edges turn light golden and smell nutty, about 2 minutes.
7. Pour in the wine, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot, and stir until it's mostly absorbed, about 1 minute.
8. Add the warm broth one cup at a time, stirring often and letting each addition absorb before adding the next, until the orzo is tender with a slight bite and the sauce around it is creamy, 12-15 minutes total.
9. Stir in the lemon zest and juice and the spinach; cook, stirring, until the spinach wilts, about 1 minute.
10. Return the shrimp and any juices they released to the pot along with the remaining 2 tablespoons butter; stir gently until the shrimp are warmed through, 1-2 minutes.
11. Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the Parmesan; taste and season with the remaining salt and pepper.
12. Divide among bowls and top with the parsley.

Dishes with a similar flavor shape

• Skillet Shrimp Scampi with Zucchini Noodles — Italian-American
• Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta — Italian-American
• Shrimp Scampi with Linguine — Italian-American
• Shrimp Scampi Flatbread — Italian-American
• Mediterranean Baked Salmon with Olives and Capers — Mediterranean

Keep reading: what umami, richness, citrus mean in the flavor lexicon · the world's cuisines, by flavor.

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Every number above is Palate's engine-measured estimate, computed from this recipe's ingredients and techniques — not human-tasted ratings or reviews.