Lemon Orzo with Shrimp and Tomatoes
Lemon Orzo with Shrimp and Tomatoes

I pride myself on being a mostly seasonal eater. I try not to buy too many tomatoes in January. I save eating butternut squash until Fall rolls around. I use dried herbs in the cold months and fresh in the summer.

But there are certain foods that I love so much, I just can’t wait until they are in season to dig in. And this lemon orzo is one of them. The truth is, by thisย time of year, I am so sick of soup and squash and potatoes and beans and all that heavy, comforting, warming food, that all I want is a big batch of something light and freshโ€”and this lemon orzo dish is where I usually choose to go off theย seasonal eating rails.

Lemon Orzo with Shrimp and Tomatoes

I’m the first to admit that this dish is so much more delicious (and cheaper!) in July with fresh herbs and fresh tomatoes, but I just can’t help myself right now. I’m jonesin’ for spring, and this big, beautiful bowl of summery pasta is the closest I can get to warm weather. Please forgive me, seasonal food gods.

If you do choose to go rogue with me, I highly recommend splurging for some of the higher quality cherry tomatoes out there. You’re never going to find tomatoes in the grocery store in January that are as delicious as what you can get in July, but a lot of stores are starting to carry more heirloom varieties that have a lot more flavor and color (even in the middle of winter) than the standards. I was able to find this mix of heirloom cherry tomatoes atย my regular supermarket, and they are pretty darn good!

And if you don’t want to go rogue with me, save this recipe somewhere, and revisit it in the summer. Because, trust me, you want to make this.

Lemon Orzo with Shrimp and Tomatoes

The first time I had an orzo salad like this was this past summer. Right after we came home from the hospital with JuneBug, my Mama brought over a bowlful of this stuff for us to eat for dinner that night (one of many meals she supplied us with during those early days of parenthood). I was on a sleep-deprived, hormonal roller coaster, so the details of those first few weeks were a little foggy, but I do remember thinking theย orzo was delicious, and jotting down a note in my recipe idea notebook that said “lemony orzo.”

When I finally came out of my newborn-induced stupor later, I asked Mama for the recipe, and the one she sent me didn’t look anything like the dishย I remembered. I’m sure that recipeย was delicious, but my whacked-out postpartum brain had “remembered” it as a much different dish. Hormones be crazy, kids. So instead of making the version my Mama sent me, I decided to make up my own version of the recipe I thought I ate. I created this recipe back in late summer, and it’s been a staple for us ever since.

Lemon Orzo with Shrimp and Tomatoes

Like most cold pasta salad recipes, this is a great dish for food prepping. The flavor just gets better and better the longer it rests, and it holds up well in the fridge and being tossed around in a food storage container on your commute to work. It’s also incredibly healthyโ€”and a great balance of all kinds of yummy nutrients to fuel your body.

This recipe also makes a nice and hefty amount, perfect for doling out into lunches all week long (if it will last that longโ€”it’s definitely one of those dishes that you sneak into the kitchen in the middle of night and take a spoonful of because you can’t stop thinking about itโ€”not that I’d know or anything).

This recipe has a lot of room for adaptation. While I was off dairy (I’m back on it nowโ€”yay!) we left out the feta. You can leave out the shrimp and have a nice and light vegetarian pasta salad. Make it your own!

Enjoy.

Lemon Orzo with Shrimp and Tomatoes

Lemon Orzo with Shrimp and Tomatoes

Yield: 8 servings
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes

This light and fresh lemon orzo is packed full of flavor, comes together in a flash, and is perfect for packing for a healthy lunch!

Ingredients

  • 1 pound orzo (whole wheat, if possible, I like this brand)
  • 1 pound raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil, divided
  • Zest and juice of 2 lemons
  • 8 green onions, sliced thinly
  • 1/4 cup minced fresh dill
  • 1/4 cup minced fresh parsley
  • 1 1/2 cup halved cherry tomatoes (quarter if they're large)
  • 1/2 cup crumbled feta
  • Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. Cook the orzo according to package directions (including both the recommended oil and salt), drain well and rinse under cold water. Place in a large mixing bowl, and set aside.
  2. Preheat oven to 425°. Place the shrimp in one layer on a baking sheet. Drizzle with a tablespoon of the olive oil, and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast in preheated oven for 4-6 minutes, or until the shrimp are pink and opaque. Remove from oven, and add shrimp to the orzo.
  3. Add the lemon zest, green onions, dill, parsley, tomatoes, and feta to the orzo. Stir to combine.
  4. Whisk together the lemon juice and remaining olive oil. Drizzle over the orzo mixture, and toss well to coat. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
  5. Serve immediately warm, or let chill for at least an hour before serving cold.

Notes

Leave out the shrimp and you have a nice, vegetarian pasta salad side dish. Drop the feta, too, and you've got a vegan option.

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1 serving
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 345Total Fat: 17gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 80mgSodium: 471mgCarbohydrates: 35gFiber: 3gSugar: 7gProtein: 14g

At Wholefully, we believe that good nutrition is about much more than just the numbers on the nutrition facts panel. Please use the above information as only a small part of what helps you decide what foods are nourishing for you.

 

 

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6 Comments

  1. Cassie- I am a first time visitor to your blog. Discovered it when I googled on Facebook for a personal trainer and the gym website had recipes on it….
    I am an avid reader and have enjoyed sitting here getting to know you. I love that your relaxed style of life transfers to your writing! Can’t wait to try these recipes (the lunches will save my health!) I find that planning is best for me but not knowing what is reasonable/doable has allowed me to not do anything!

  2. This is without a doubt the nicest summer pasta I’ve had (it’s summer here in Australia). All the flavours pop, and I had the leftovers for lunch the following day. What a burst of sunshine in my mouth! Sooooo good!

  3. I am right there with ya about eating seasonally. I refuse to eat watermelon in January! lol surprisingly, I found some perfect strawberries at Costco this weekend..

    Can’t wait to make this, though. I’ll definitely be adding the feta!! Yum!

  4. I love that the introduction to this post is all about tomatoes being out of season. I was putting off reading this post for that very reason! “I can’t make this — tomatoes won’t be available until June!” But it does look delicious, so I’m definitely saving it for another day.

    On a related note, are you aware of any brand that’s making whole wheat orzo? It seems like the whole wheat trend is so limited to certain shapes of pasta and I wish that wasn’t the case. Just wondering!