roasted shrimp and orzo

Happy Monday, y'all! Best news ever -- our AC is fixed! We were blessed with incredible weather -- 70 degrees in Dallas in JULY -- this weekend, but as the temp is supposed to climb back up to 100 this week, I couldn't be more thankful for some COOL AIR!

The return of hot weather calls for easy cooking and fresh, colorful meals. This roasted shrimp and orzo salad from (who else?) Ina fits the bill perfectly. It's got great salty flavor from the chunks of feta and perfect crunch from cucumbers and red onion. Lots of fresh herbs in the mix because... well, you know.

This is the perfect dish for entertaining because the longer it sits, the better it is! Let's have some friends over, serve this up in big bowls, and celebrate summer!

Roasted Shrimp and Orzo (from Ina Garten)

serves 6

you'll need:

kosher salt & freshly ground black pepper

olive oil

3/4 lb. orzo 

juice of 3 lemons

2 lbs. peeled and deveined shrimp

1 cup minced scallions

1 cup chopped fresh dill

1 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley

1 English cucumber, seeded and diced

1/2 red onion, diced

3/4 lb. feta cheese, diced

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Salt well, then add the orzo and cook according to package directions. Drain and pour into a large bowl. Pour over the lemon juice, 1/2 cup olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Stir well and set aside.

While the pasta is cooking, place the shrimp on a sheet pan. Toss with a bit of olive oil, salt, and pepper. Roast the shrimp in a single layer for 5-6 minutes, until the shrimp are just cooked through and pink.

Add the shrimp to the orzo along with the scallions, dill, parsley, cucumber, and onion. Taste for seasoning and add salt and pepper as desired. Carefully fold in the feta. Keep at room temperature for 1 hour before serving to allow the flavors to blend, or refrigerate up to overnight. (If refrigerating, bring back to room temperature before serving.)

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