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Quick Creamy Garlic Shrimp and Orzo with Fresh Asparagus Salad

•

Eli

This shrimp and orzo dish is satisfying with lightning-fast execution. It’s a meal that’s bursting with flavor. Pair it with a fresh asparagus salad for a complete and delicious dining experience.

I love Costco’s Garlic Butter Shrimp. It’s one of the cleanest frozen shrimps I’ve found, and it has a built in seasoned butter that is frozen around the shrimp. It melts into a delicious sauce that pairs great with pasta.

A white plate with a close up of creamy garlic shrimp and orzo.

Prep Time

10 minutes

Cook Time

20 minutes

Serves

4

Shrimp & Orzo Ingredients

  • 1 package Kirkland Garlic Butter Shrimp
  • 1 cup dried orzo

Salad Ingredients

  • 1 bundle of asparagus – cut into 2″ sections (hard ends discarded)
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes – halved
  • 1/2 medium red onion – diced
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • Juice & zest of 1 medium lemon
  • 2 cloves garlic – minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper

Steps

1

Bring a large pot of water to boil. While the water comes to a boil, fill a large bowl with ice and water.

2

Gently place trimmed asparagus into the pot and boil for 2-4 minutes until stalks are bright green. Immediately drain in a colander, then place the stalks in the ice bath for 1-2 minutes.

3

In the same pot, fill with fresh water and bring to a boil. Cook the orzo according to the package instructions (about 10 minutes) and drain in a colander when finished.

4

Warm a cast iron skillet to medium-high heat. Cook the shrimp 3-4 minutes on each side. The frozen sauce will release as you cook it.

5

Add the halved tomatoes and diced onions to a bowl with the asparagus.

6

In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice and zest, garlic, and salt & pepper.

6

Pour the dressing over the vegetables and gently toss to coat.

6

Add the orzo to the skillet with the shrimp and stir to evenly distribute the sauce.

Plate and enjoy! Sometimes I combine the two separate leftover dishes into one delicious lunch!

Why I love this meal:

  • It’s fast and clean — especially for a prepackaged entree
  • The shrimp adds lean protein
  • The vegetables and light sauce balance the meal and add brightness and nutrition