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    Spicy Red Curry Shrimp Orzo with Snap Peas

    Published: Jan 27, 2013 / 8 Comments

    2.9K shares
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    Recipe Print

    Spicy Red Curry Shrimp Orzo with Snap Peas - easy dinner that combines Thai flavors with creamy orzo pasta.  You’ll appreciate a complexity of multiple flavors in this recipe.  Spicy and creamy red curry based sauce (a little bit Thai and a little bit Indian) and spicy shrimp are balanced by creamy orzo (pasta shaped like rice).   Green snap peas complete the picture and bring even more balance to this recipe.

    Spicy curry shrimp pasta: curried tomato sauce, snap peas, orzo rice

    Well on my way to use up all 30 pounds of seafood from my freezer by cooking dishes like this  Black Cod with Balsamic Shallot Sauce, I've been cooking seafood like a mad woman lately, and this recipe for Spicy Red Curry Shrimp Orzo with Snap Peas did not disappoint. You'll find a complexity of multiple flavors in the dish: spicy red curry based sauce (a little bit Thai and a little bit Indian), balanced by creamy Parmesan orzo (pasta shaped like rice) and complemented by simply prepared green snap peas (how complex can you go with snap peas?), topped by perfectly spiced shrimp.

    Spicy curry shrimp pasta: curried tomato sauce, snap peas, orzo rice

    While you and I (and my husband) can enjoy the complexity of flavors, I, as a cook, also immensely enjoyed the fact that this Spicy Red Curry Shrimp Orzo was SO easy to prepare. And by easy I mean 1 hour from start to finish. That's it! And finally, the colors of the dish (orange-red curry, green snap peas, white orzo, red shrimp) make it so presentable this red curry shrimp would not be embarrassed if it was to be served in a respectable restaurant.

    What I also love about this red curry shrimp orzo is that this dish is filling without being overly rich.  While the sauce is thick and creamy and plentiful in quantity, it only has ⅓ cup heavy cream. To make the spicy red curry cream sauce I first sautéed garlic and onions, then made the sauce creamy by adding ONLY ⅓ cup of heavy cream (plus ⅓ cup milk and water) plus spices: red curry, tomato paste, paprika.

    Spicy curry shrimp pasta: curried tomato sauce, snap peas, orzo rice

    Lately, I am also absolutely in love with orzo, which is pasta that looks like rice. I find that this small-shaped pasta goes perfectly with bite-sized shrimp.

    I used raw shrimp, so before preparing this dish, I rinsed the shrimp, removed the shells and deveined it.  I hope you enjoy this Spicy Red Curry Shrimp Orzo with Snap Peas!

    Here is how you plate this shrimp recipe.  On each individual plate (there are 4 total servings), first, top orzo with spicy red curry sauce:

    How to serve shrimp

    Then, add green snap peas on top of spicy curry sauce; also put some snap peas around orzo at the base, too:

    How to serve shrimp

    Finally, top green snap peas with shrimp.  Not only is this Spicy Red Curry Shrimp Orzo with Snap Peas delicious and easy to make, it is also beautiful to serve:

    Spicy curry shrimp pasta: curried tomato sauce, snap peas, orzo rice

    Spicy Red Curry Shrimp Orzo and Snap Peas
    5 from 1 vote

    Spicy Red Curry Shrimp Orzo with Snap Peas

    You’ll appreciate a complexity of multiple flavors in this recipe.  Spicy and creamy red curry based sauce (a little bit Thai and a little bit Indian) and spicy shrimp are balanced by creamy orzo (pasta shaped like rice).   Green snap peas complete the picture and bring even more balance to this recipe. 
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 30 mins
    Cook Time 30 mins
    Total Time 1 hr
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine Asian
    Servings 4 people
    Calories per serving 595 kcal
    Author: Julia

    Ingredients

    Snap Peas:

    • 2 cups snap peas , uncooked fresh

    Creamy Orzo:

    • 6 oz orzo , uncooked
    • 1 cup Parmesan cheese , shredded
    • ¼ cup heavy cream
    • salt to taste

    Shrimp:

    • 1 tablespoon sesame oil
    • 1 lb shrimp , raw, uncooked, de-veined, without shells
    • 1 teaspoon paprika
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • 1 ½ teaspoons chili powder

    Creamy Red Curry Sauce:

    • 5 green onions , chopped
    • 1 small onion , sliced
    • 7 cloves garlic , sliced
    • ⅓ cup heavy cream
    • ⅓ cup milk
    • ⅔ cup water
    • 2 tablespoons red curry paste
    • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
    • paprika

    Instructions 

    Snap Peas:

    • Bring water to boil in a small pan and cook snap peas for about 10 minutes in boiling water until desired crispiness, drain.

    Creamy Orzo:

    • Bring water to boil in a separate pan, add orzo and boil for about 9 minutes. Drain, return orzo to pan. 
    • Add shredded Parmesan cheese, ¼ cup heavy cream, simmer briefly, stirring, until cheese melts.

    Shrimp:

    • In a separate bowl, mix all spices together and add shrimp: toss to coat. 
    • Heat sesame oil on medium heat in a large frying pan until oil sizzles.   Add shrimp.  Cook shrimp on medium heat about 3-4 minutes on each side until the shrimp is pink and cooked through. Remove shrimp to a plate.

    Creamy Red Curry Sauce:

    • To the same pan, add chopped green onions, regular onion, and garlic, cover with lid and cook covered for about 7 minutes on medium or medium-low heat, stirring occasionally. No need to add more oil because onions will release their juices.
    • Add heavy cream, milk, half of the water (⅓ cup of water) to the pan with onions and garlic and bring to boil. Add curry paste and tomato paste. Mix until well incorporated and let it simmer for 5 minutes.  Add the remaining water (⅓ cup of water) if needed.  Add paprika at the end if necessary.

    Assembly:

    • To serve, spoon orzo on each plate, top with curry sauce, place snap peas on top and around orzo, then top with shrimp.

    Nutrition

    Nutrition Information
    Spicy Red Curry Shrimp Orzo with Snap Peas
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    595
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    26
    g
    40
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    13
    g
    81
    %
    Cholesterol
     
    352
    mg
    117
    %
    Sodium
     
    1535
    mg
    67
    %
    Potassium
     
    569
    mg
    16
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    46
    g
    15
    %
    Fiber
     
    4
    g
    17
    %
    Sugar
     
    7
    g
    8
    %
    Protein
     
    41
    g
    82
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    3190
    IU
    64
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    42.9
    mg
    52
    %
    Calcium
     
    576
    mg
    58
    %
    Iron
     
    5.2
    mg
    29
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

    The nutritional information on this website is only an estimate and is provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed. It should not be used as a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

    Tried this recipe?Be sure to leave a comment and provide a Star Rating below - I love your feedback and try to respond to every comment!
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Christin@fortmillscliving

      January 29, 2013 at 8:49 pm

      This is my kind of dish Julia! Love shrimp and curry. The snow pictures look so beautiful.

      Reply
    2. Suzanne Perazzini

      January 28, 2013 at 4:14 pm

      You have made this dish look lovely - great photos. Shrimps are a particular favourite.

      Reply
    3. Laura Dembowski

      January 28, 2013 at 1:07 pm

      Such a beautiful dish! I love curry powder, but have never tried curry paste. I will have to buy some.

      Reply
    4. Natasha @ The Cake Merchant

      January 28, 2013 at 8:04 am

      Shrimp and snap peas are two of my favorite things. This looks really good!

      Reply
    5. Denise Browning@From Brazil To You

      January 28, 2013 at 7:13 am

      It looks delicious, Julia! Plus, I like the detailed photos on how to pile/assemble the dish in the plate. Great job!

      Reply
    6. Tash

      January 28, 2013 at 2:59 am

      Ahhh, what a lovely dish! It looks fresh and very tasty indeed. I am always looking for new ways to try curry dishes and I think pairing it with different textures is a great way to do it. 🙂

      Reply
    7. FoodNova

      January 28, 2013 at 2:21 am

      amazing dish, we are posting this amazing food in our "Food network" blog. http://www.foodnova.blogspot.com

      Reply
    8. Rosa

      January 28, 2013 at 1:03 am

      A beautiful and mouthwatering shrimp dish!

      Cheers,

      Rosa

      Reply

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