Orzo Pasta With Shrimp, Sun-dried Tomatoes, and Artichokes
Orzo, also known as risoni, is a form of short-cut pasta, shaped like a large grain of rice. The name orzo is common for this pasta shape in North America, and less common in Italy; the Italian word orzo actually means barley. Orzo cooks quick and it’s easy to eat! I like that the small shapes are easy to pick up with other ingredients to create the perfect bite.
This dish highlights rich, earthy, and also fresh flavors. The orzo, sun-dried tomatoes, artichokes, shrimp, and sauce made with tomato paste, basil and the juices from the marinated artichokes come together beautifully. The tomato paste adds a rich tomato flavor that complements the chunks of the sun-dried variety. The plump seared shrimp add an extra element to make this a complete meal.
To make the sauce sing a little song, I add a little bit of the starchy pasta cooking water. This helps thicken the sauce and stick to the pasta. Have you done this when making pasta? It’s a great tip to use in other pasta recipes. Just a splash of that cooking water helps to turn a regular sauce into a velvety and smooth sauce that coats the pasta evenly.
In Italy we typically don’t eat cheese with seafood. For this reason I don’t top with added cheese. If it suits you, add a little sprinkle of parmeggiano! Make it your own or serve it the traditional way sans cheese. Enjoy around a table of friends and family and it’s a recipe for a lovely time.
Made with Amore,
Elena
Orzo Pasta With Shrimp, Sun-dried Tomatoes, and Artichokes
Recipe details
- 6 servings
- Prep time: 10 Minutes Cook time: 15 Minutes Total time: 25 min
Comments
Share your thoughts, or ask a question!