Shrimp Scampi With Orzo
Published March 19, 2023

- Total Time
- 25 minutes
- Rating
- Comments
- Read comments
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Ingredients
- 1pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 3tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1tablespoon lemon zest, plus 1 tablespoon juice (from 1 lemon)
- ½teaspoon red-pepper flakes
- Kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal) and black pepper
- 4garlic cloves, minced
- 2tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1cup orzo
- ⅓cup dry white wine
- 2cups boiling water, seafood stock or chicken stock
- 3tablespoons finely chopped parsley
Preparation
- Step 1
In a medium bowl, stir together shrimp, 1 tablespoon olive oil, lemon zest, red-pepper flakes, ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon pepper and half of the garlic. Set aside to marinate. (This step can be done up to 1 hour in advance.)
- Step 2
Add butter, remaining olive oil and remaining garlic to a medium skillet set over medium heat. When the butter starts to bubble, add the orzo and ½ teaspoon salt and cook, stirring often, until the orzo is toasted, about 2 minutes, adjusting the heat as necessary to prevent the garlic from burning. Carefully add the wine — it will bubble — and stir until absorbed, about 1 minute. Stir in water, reduce heat to low, cover, and cook until orzo is al dente, about 12 minutes.
- Step 3
Add the shrimp in a snug, even layer on top of the orzo, cover, and cook until all the shrimp is pink and cooked through, 2 to 4 minutes. Remove from heat and let sit, covered, 2 minutes.
- Step 4
Sprinkle with parsley and lemon juice, season with salt and pepper, and serve immediately.
Private Notes
Comments
Tasty, tasty. I did use Jessica’s suggestion to toast the orzo longer, to a light brown color. Because of that I delayed adding the garlic to avoid burning. Will cook this again.
Easy, very good. IMPORTANT CHANGES: use 1/4 t hot pepper flakes, 1/2 the salt, use 1 1/2 c liquid and taste the orzo after 9 minutes.
I found 2 cups of water left my shrimp swimming. Next time I’ll use 1 1/2.
Superb! I made stock with the shrimp shells,bay leaf ,carrot and celery and used only 1 &1/2 cup. - waited till orzo was toasted and briefly sauteed garlic
Made it on Feb 5th, 2026. Used half of cup of my own lobster stock and 1 cup of homemade turkey stock. Was suggested by others that a total of 2 cups of stock was too much. Did not add wine either. Came out really good. Also pan fried the shrimp first as others said it didn’t cook the garlic in the pot.
That was the best meal I’ve cooked in months!!! Extra toasted my orzo for that nutty flavor. Two cups of chicken stock was perfect but I kept it at a high simmer (close to boil) and would occasionally take the lid off and stir to see how the liquid was absorbing.
