Today I have for you an easy skinny, spicy, saucy shrimp fusion that will blow your mind, but not your waistline! And it’s fast! For all you 9 to 5er’s. your after 5 o’clock self will appreciate it!
Skinny Baked Tomato Sriracha Shrimp with Olives and Feta ! AND, an optional Zesty Lemon Scallion Orzo or Risoni to pile it on top of (or serve on the side, your choice!)
It’s not often you’ll see something healthy on this blog. Once in a while, though, I get the urge to post something fat-free, or at least veggie or fruity fresh and healthy, and this is the first time I’m going there. I mostly eat this way in real life (I’d be six feet under if I ate my blog food on a daily basis), but never thought to post some of my healthier dishes.
I would say I’m a food ‘everything’ blog, from the fattiest, most gourmet creations you can imagine, to the fattiest, most down-home creations you can imagine, both sweet and savory, to well..sort of healthy when the mood strikes. I know shrimp is loaded with cholesterol, but you could substitute other shellfish if it bothers you, or your favorite mild fish. Regardless, this baked sriracha shrimp is definitely lighter on the bod.
I once tried this dish of shrimp, tomatoes and feta by Ellie Krieger that was pretty tasty and healthy (do you think it’ll wipe out several quarts of cassoulet fat making its way through my system?)! When I spotted my Sriracha sauce in the cupboard, I knew exactly where I wanted to take the pound plus of shrimp I had bought that day
NOTE – This post was initially the same dish, but using Picante sauce instead of Sriracha. Second time I made it, the Sriracha won out, so I slightly changed the recipe. If you’d rather use picante sauce or any other spicy or hot sauce or salsa, go for it!
SO, this shrimp was going to be fusion healthy because I was definitely going to pair up a little of Japan, and a lot Greece, for a bounty of flavor profiles. Salty feta, briny kalamata olives, juicy tomatoes, spicy Sriracha heat, and sweet cilantro (Mexico joins the party!). I knew this would all taste great with the shrimp before I even tried it..and it did.
Why didn’t I add a slice of lemon or some lemon zest to like umm, show it’s orzo or risoni with LEMON? Not to mention it looks dry AF in this photo because it sat for a bit, and I forgot to stir it since the fun bunch was yelling for dinner, but it’s actually super duper creamy. Plus, my awful photo skills make good food look bad.
It may not be the prettiest shrimp dish, but trust me, it’s so worth it because it’s a quick, easy, and almost super-healthy lunch or dinner. I say ‘almost’ because I took it off the super healthy chart by spooning it on top of zesty scallion risoni or orzo with lemon. Orzo or Risoni isn’t bad for you, but it’s carbs nonetheless. Of course you don’t have to make the orzo or risoni so it’s back to ‘super-healthy’ if you skip it.
That said, sometimes I use fat-free feta, so that’s got to cancel out something by way of fat, right? I think that puts this shrimp at a level I’d call, somewhat super healthy, and even healthier with a green salad in lieu of the orzo or risoni, right?
Alright, enough with all of this ‘healthy’ rambling because it tastes awesome and that’s what matters most. Ease of preparation, quick cooking, and again, it tastes awesome. Is this not a Mom’s dream? A bachelor/bachelorette’s dream? Wait, anyone can eat and make this spicy baked shrimp, so forget all that and just make it. I guarantee you will be very happy with the blast of flavor taking place on your palate.
I need to interrupt this entry because I have to post this photo. Don’t worry, I’m NOT cooking them!
Seriously, HOW CUTE ARE THESE BABIES?? Look at their little feeties! This photo doesn’t belong in a post about food, but I couldn’t resist and had to share. I want a baby platypus! (pot-bellied pig or baby chick syndrome).
Now back to my luscious, healthy shrimp dish.
If you use fat-free feta cheese, do NOT add it until the dish comes out of the oven. Fat-free cheese doesn’t melt well; it turns kind of rubbery when exposed to direct heat (it’s the milk fat that makes full fat cheese melt), but raw or slightly melted, you wouldn’t know the difference between full-fat and fat-free feta. Sprinkle a good handful of the fat-free feta on top of the baked shrimp and let it soften at the table. For full-fat feta, add it to the dish before you put it in the oven and let it melt and bubble away, as shown in the photos, I used the fat-free feta and found out the hard way that it doesn’t melt well in the oven!
Now, the giveaway!! I have a beautiful, brand new, Le Creuset Stoneware 14-Inch Oval Baking Dish, in Cherry Red up for grabs. This is not to promote anything – this was given to me and I already have one in blue, so I’d like to give it away to one of you! Just leave a comment, Tweet it, and maybe a Facebook share and/or like! I’ll be choosing the winner using random integer one week from today! Good luck!
Skinny Baked Tomato Sriracha Shrimp with Olives and Feta
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium onion, diced (about 1½ cups)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (14.5-ounce) can of no-salt-added diced tomatoes, with the juice
- 2 tablespoons Sriracha Sauce or your favorite hot sauce (more or less depending on how hot you like it)
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
- 1½ pounds large shrimp, peeled and deveined (I leave the tails on;.looks prettier)
- ½ cup pitted and sliced kalamata olives
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ¼ cup finely chopped fresh cilantro
- ⅔ cup crumbled full-fat or fat-free feta cheese (about 3 ounces)
- 1 lemon
- coarse salt and ground pepper
- 1 cup risoni or orzo pasta
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 scallions, thinly sliced
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
- Heat the oil in an oven proof skillet over a medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring, until softened, about 3 minutes, then add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add the tomatoes and Sriracha then bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and let simmer for about 5 minutes, until the juices and sauce thicken.
- Remove from the heat. Stir in the parsley, shrimp and sliced olives. Season with salt and pepper. IF you're using full-fat feta, sprinkle the feta over the top and bake until the shrimp are cooked through and cheese melts, about 12 minutes. If you're using fat-free feta, sprinkle it over the top AFTER it bakes in the oven for 12 minutes.
- Top with chopped cilantro and serve over zesty lemon scallion risoni, if desired.
- Using a vegetable peeler, peel half the lemon (avoiding the bitter white pith); thinly slice peel and squeeze 2 tablespoons juice into a small bowl. Set the peel and juice aside.
- Bring a large saucepan or medium pot of salted water to a boil. Add risoni and lemon peel. Cook until risoni is al dente, according to package instructions. Drain and return the risoni to the saucepan or pot.
- Stir lemon juice, oil, butter and scallions into the hot risoni Season with salt and pepper; then toss to combine.
Aaaawwwww, I want a baby platypus tooo!
That dish looks gorgeous! Healthy, but very enjoyable.
cheers,
Rosa
OMK! You mean you didn’t know about the fat-free cheese having melting issues?? It’s the milk fat that allows it TO melt … LOL They need to put that on the labels “This cheese will NOT melt if you put it in the oven” … LOL Your Mexico plus Greece combo actually looks a LOT like the stuff that my folks had in Spain last year … The dish looks great, but I’d have to pass as Cilantro tried to kill me and I don’t do olives & shrimp … LOL
Thanks, tiamat, I just added that to my post. I had not had fat free cheese in a long time. I figured they might have fixed that problem by now with some kind of chemical lol
I think I might’ve left a wild tag running amok … LOL
The milk fat also lets the skim milk cheese melt too 😉 LOL It’s been a long time for me not having the fat free cheese, but that’s because I don’t like the way it tastes … To me, fat free cheese equates to carob bean “chocolate” … LOL Speaking of chocolate, I need to make some CCC … Just need some newer BP 😉 I’ll have to email you later about something 😉
Oooo, now I want a baby platypuss too!! How cute are they! But ok…. now on to your dish. It looks absolutely delicious but seriously… fatfree cheese?? I think that it’s a contradiction in itself..lol… I mean, I should be having fatfree cheese to be honest. Much better for maintaining some sort of waistline, but I just don’t like fatfree cheese! Rubbery is the right terms and no matter how much taste they pack into it… Its just not the real thing! But I will make your dish with ‘real’ feta! Looks delicious!
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Awww… I want a baby platypus… how cute are they!
I’d also love to win your giveaway 🙂 Thanks!
danielleaknapp at gmail dot com
The photos may not win foodgawker’s first price but they make total justice to the dish, really yummy!
The photos of those platypus babies are really cute, who on earth raises them?
I have never seen a baby platypus before – how cute are they?? That dish looks awesome. And if foodgawker doesn’t like your photos, I have NO shot EVER! 🙂 Awesome giveaway, btw – that dish looks awesome and red is my daughter’s favorite color… 🙂
Ohhh I covet that baking dish… maybe because it will match my Le Creuset Dutch oven pan which is red.
I can’t really make shrimp at home because Jeff is allergic to it, but I love the idea of a tomato and feta dish, and lemon orzo is one of my favorite sides.
Those platypus babies are adorable!
I think that’s a pretty fine looking dish (which probably explains why I receive similar comments every time I submit an entry to similar sites). I’ve been thinking it was time to pull shrimp back into our dinner rotation… I think I know what I’m starting with! 🙂
lemony orzo sounds great! I’ll be giving that a try soon. I love orzo!
I’m in love with all things le cruset…would be happy to accept 🙂
oh! those babies! The baking dish is pretty cute too! Put me in the running!
Your recipe came at the perfect time for me, Lisa! I finally got on the scale to motivate myself to lose weight, and it worked! I was also shocked(I don’t know why, I do have a mirror) and a bit depressed over the high number. Your recipe sounds so good, and the platypus babies made me smile:) I love all the ingredients here so I will be making it. Thanks for the tip about the cheese, and thanks for the inspiration by providing a healthy AND flavorful dish!
Lisa – I love it and want one, too! The baby platypus, I mean. 🙂 But I wouldn’t mind the Le Creuset dish either. 🙂
The shrimp and orzo dish is lovely! I’m have to bookmark this page. I love all things spicy. But I’m with you – I don’t really post too many recipes considered “healthy” although that’s mostly what we eat! In fact, I’m such a cruel mom and only occasionally let them have a bite of some of the baked desserts. Talk about a tease!
But I would let those baby platypus eat whatever they want! Where did you take that picture??
Ah wow this looks amazing, I never really used to like shrimp that much but I love them now! I would love to try this!
I am usually turned off when something is billed as healthy, but this looks great!
amazing recipe and such cute platypuses (platypusi??)
Okay…I TOTALLY have to make that!! Looks great. And fat free feta really tastes about the same and regular. A good find! Um…those babies are too cute…don’t care if they aren’t food!
Looks delicious!
First: now I want a baby platypus. Holy moly those were cute.
Second: I am laughing my butt off about your comment about food gawker, etc. They call everything dull. Whatever, I stopped even bothering with them a while ago. Your photo looks terrific and it certainly looks yummy to me which ought to be the final word, right?
Third: I confess I would use full fat cheese, i’m hedonistic that way, but looks great. I am a big fan of using jarred salsa in stuff.
This dish looks amazing! Seems like everything fits perfectly together. Thank you, I’m going to try it sometime this week.
I’d love to get the Le Creuset baking dish,they are the best 🙂
I would LOVE to be the lucky winner of the baknig dish!!
I followed your link from PW’s site. I almost spit out my tea when I got to the baby platypus picture in the middle of your recipe post. That is SO how my brain works! Oooh look shiny! I’m going to bookmark your blog 🙂
Aww! What a doll baby! Next time you should give away those sweet, little platypus babies. But, I suppose I will take the consolation prize of a gorgeous Le Creuset. Please supplement my empty cabinets I have one pot and one skillet!
OOH I love that picture of the baby platymuses! Or is it baby platypi? Whatever. So so cute. Thank you for posting that pic.
City Girl to Country Girl
http://www.citygirltocountrygirl.com
Got to your blog from PW’s site. Love this dish and would love to win it!
The shrimp with picante sauce sounds delicious! And what cute baby platypus!
I want a baby platypus for Christmas……..only a baby platypus will do….
So, so cute!
Thanks for the giveaway!
[email protected]
Looks Just lovely! Yum.
that looks delicious! I’m going to try it this week 🙂
Thanks, I needed some Feta ideas.
love what you did with the salsa! i’m with you, it’s best to try it out in a recipe! and that picture is pretty freakin adorable 🙂
ooh, and I tweeted about the giveaway! @tri2cook
Looks delish! And those platapuses are so cute!
Cute pictures and thanks for this awesome giveaway…
I’m so happy to find your site and my fingers are crossed for the le creuset.
Have a nice day!
Wow… I just peaked into this blog and I know I’ll be spending numerous hours drooling over recipes. Great site!
Aren’t those platypi too cute LOL LOL I wonder why do you have Aussie animals in the post! Very interesting posting I have never heard of no-fat cheese it sounds intriguing. Anyway the final dish does look tasty at least. Thank you for the information on thee products. Yours Audax
While I can’t bring myself to drool over fat-free cheese, I am most positively drooling over the dish. Are the little platys included, or do I need to purchase those separately? :~)
That orzo sounds awesome! And those platypi made me squee from cuteness!
Totally distracted by the baby platypus… Love them!
The lemon orzo sounds FABULOUS! I find that, even when cooking “full fat” things, by making them at home and controling the ingredients, I feel less guilty about what I am eating…
Anf Foodgawker be darned, your photos look beautiful to me!
Oh, when I was little I had a stuffed animal platypus! (a stuffed toy, not a real stuffed platypus) They are so, so cute!!!
Love the shrimp dish!!
i loooove that baking dish
Holy platypus! hahah i couldn’t stop staring at them! The dish sounds yummy and i’ve had the melting feta issue too!
Wow, the shrimp look amazing! I’ll have to give it a try, perhaps this week. The baby platypus are so sweet!
Lisa, the shrimps look so tasty…and perfect matched with the lemony orzo pasta. Perfect meal! The baby platypus is SO SO cute…could not help but smile 🙂 I hope you have a wonderful week ahead!
I don’t do much healthy cooking, but this dish looks good enough to eat! Anything with shrimp is good in my book anyway.
Shrimp, tomatoes, olives and feta sound like a fantastic combination to me! I rarely post savoury dishes, and healthy ones even less often than that. But maybe if I had a shiny new red pan to set them off!? Let Foodgawker call that dull! Though they would, if I sent it…
🙂
I cannot show my kids the baby platypus or they will want one! Me, I just want the Le Creuset! 🙂
susitravl(at)gmail(dot)com
Gimme gimme gimme! I have yet to own anything Le Creuset 🙁
Oh, by the way, don’t knock the orzo. I’ve been seeing a dietician and I’ve been strictly instructed to eat 1 or 2 portions of carbs at every meal, granted it should be wholemeal/wholewheat where possible, but it’s a very important part of a healthy balanced diet.
You have no idea how happy I was to discover that I could eat pasta (or bread or potato!) again and not feel guilty because it’s a dreaded carb. Turns out you really need those healthy carbs (in moderation, of course). They fill and fuel you.
So there, I’d say you’ve got a pretty healthy meal there! I’d add a side salad to up the veg content, but otherwise, this is a great meal 🙂
Look gorgeous too, I really do love shrimp.
I also love baby platypus!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Want one!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wow, that looks delicious. I love spicy food so much – it’s my weakness. Also a weakness? Baby platypus!
The best healthy dishes are the ones that taste amazing and this looks amazing!
foodgawker shmaker….they hate me so I gave up. Your recipe looks awesome awesome awesome. Healthy can be amazing. Thank god you are not cooking the platypus.
Would love to get that creuset dish!
Lisa…where do I start?
Those baby platypus would make great snuggly buddies to my puppy…toooo adorable.
The savoury dishes are very well thought out and executed…Buon appetito…I want seconds.
Last, but not least, your giveaway is much appreciated…good luck to everyone ;o)
Ciao for now,
Claudia
LOL @ the ‘dull/unsharp’ comment – that’s what Foodgawker always tells me, too! I am a Le Creuset junkie and am definitely coveting the dish.
I could really use a new dish, hah, thanks for the giveaway!
So great when a recipe is both tasty and healthy. That’s a beautiful dish, it would look great in pictures on my blog!
The food looks awesome! And as much as I’d like to have a baby platypus because they are just TOO adorable – I’ll take the red Le Creuset dish because it’s adorable too! 🙂
I shared you on Facebook!
Aaaawwwww, LOVE those baby platypus’I want one too!!
recipe sounds delish!
This Picante Shrimp looks amazing! I love any dish with feta and olives! Mmmm…
I love my Le Creuset dutch oven…I use it about once a week! I am sure I could put that baking dish to use too! 😉
Another giveaway from Lisa……here we come 🙂 . The photographs are amazing as always…….I had never seen a baby platypus before!
We love shrimp and I’m always looking for yummy ways to prepare it! Thanks for the giveaway!
Yum! This sounds amazing for a sunday night in the summer.
I had no idea how cute a baby platypus could be! (The recipe looks good too!)
Although I’d love to win a le creuset I’d like a baby platypus even more. I can keep it in my bathtub and feed it cupcakes. In the meantime, I will be eating this gorgeous skinny dinner you made so I can say the super svelte supermodel that I am.
*kisses* HH
Wow, those platypus are really cute. Where did you see them?
This is suitable to serve in a friends gathering. Must be so impressive to tell that this is not just appetizing but also healthy! Great sharing, Lisa, love the photos and the recipe 🙂
Thank you so much for a chance to win! I was looking for a baking dish similar to this but haven’t decide what to get yet.
I found your blog through the picture/link you submit to DMBLGIT! SO glad I did because I love your blog. I’m your newest follower. 😉
Amy
http://utry.it
This made me smile, because I used to look at other people’s decadent food blogs and wonder if they always ate like that. Now that I have a blog of my own, I know how it is: the extravagant recipes are usually the exception.
But it doesn’t mean everyday recipes can’t be exceptional! And this recipe looks like a true winner, with all those bold flavours. Love it!
This dish looks yummy! I found you on Pioneer Woman’s site – would love to win this dish!!
Thanks for the giveaway! That. Is. So. Cute!
I tweeted, too!
http://twitter.com/#!/FakeGradSchool/status/46489756808392704
Shrimp with tomatoes and feta is a class Greek dish that I go BANANAS over. Great post – the babies were the best part!!! Never leave us hanging like that. Where did you find them?
🙂
I have been neck deep in the throws of planning a local food conference here within slow food and have not posted for three weeks. Important work. Time well spent: BUT…I have not read, written, cooked and I miss my life and reading YOU!
I am catching up slowly!
🙂
Valerie
Looks quite yummy.
I am drooling over your dishes now!
Would love to be entered!
I had no idea that a baby platypus is so freakin’ cute! I want one.
And those recipes look pretty tasty! I usually make orzo like that, but with mixed herbs instead of scallions and a little crumbled feta on top. I usually use it to stuff vegetables like tomatoes and zucchini in the summer.
What a fabulous giveaway. Also, I had never seen a baby platypus before. How adorable. I’d love to win the dish.
aww baby platypus=intensely ADORABLE! I would love to get in on that le creuset action!!! And Pace is so adaptable! Ive been using it since I was a kid and I love it!
I was led to your blog through the Daring Bakers’ site…a give away PLUS a yummy recipe! How fun 🙂
I totally want a baby platypus now!
Your giveaway is so great! Thanks!
oh please can I have a red creuset baker with a baby platypus on the side?
I was really enjoying looking at your food and then I saw the baby platypuses. Then I started to contemplate what platypus would taste like, which is something I think I would have gone my entire life without thinking about until I stopped by your blog. Hmmmm. . . they are just too darn cute!
That recipe sounds WONDERFUL! I’m saving it to make sometime for our cooking club. Thanks!
Love that baker. It would match in my kitchen perfectly. =)
Love your blog. I just discovered you as I read Ree’s blog. The baby platapus photo is fantastic.
Thank you, Carol! Hope you continue to stop by and check out my vittles 🙂 Some great Giveaways coming up too!
Oh, they are cute, but I would love to have the baker instead.!!
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