Mediterranean shrimp pasta is an excellent go-to meal when you aren’t sure what to cook, but need a healthy dinner or lunch. A lot of my recipes are Mediterranean inspired because of how gut-friendly their meals are. Not to mention they are absolutely beautiful, vibrant, and bursting with flavor. This particular dish has complex carbohydrates, lean protein, various vegetables, and healthy fat from olive oil. Everything combined together is so pleasant and leaves you feeling completely satisfied. It is also ready in less than 20 minutes with minimal prep work. Healthy can and should be easy!
What makes Mediterranean shrimp pasta balanced?
This meal is balanced because it incorporates healthy and whole ingredients. The pasta itself is made from whole grain, which is a good source of complex carbohydrates and an excellent source of fiber. The shrimp are wild-caught and a lean protein source that is low in calories and high in nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids. This recipe calls for red onion, cherry tomatoes, and kalamata olives, which are all high in antioxidants. Additionally, the use of olive oil in the dish adds to its nutritional value as it is rich in healthy monosaturated fats. Overall, this meal provides a good mix of macro and micronutrients making it a powerful, anti-inflammatory, balanced meal.
What kind of pasta should I use?
To make this meal truly beneficial, I recommend using whole-grain-based pasta. Whole grain is considered a complex carbohydrate, which is better for our health. It is easier to digest and has more nutrients and fiber.
A few suggestions:
- Any whole wheat or whole grain pasta
- Whole wheat orzo
- Chickpea pasta
- Lentil pasta
- Brown rice pasta
I use brown rice pasta that is gluten-free and made with 1 simple ingredient: Organic whole grain brown rice flour.
How to make Mediterranean shrimp pasta
As I mentioned above, this is an easy, quick meal to prepare that has minimal hands-on time. A few steps and your meal is ready in under 20 minutes!
Step 1: Prepare your veggies/fruits
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F.
- Halve your 2 cups of cherry tomatoes, chop your red onion, and chop your parsley.
- In a large mixing bowl add your tomatoes, olives, onion, parsley, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper, and mix well.
- Then, transfer the mixture to a baking dish and place a block of feta cheese in the middle of the mixture (about 1/2 a cup of cheese).
- Bake for 15 minutes or until the cheese is melty.
- Meanwhile, cook the pasta according to the instructions.
Step 2: Cook your shrimp
- While the pasta and mixture cook, prepare your shrimp.
- In a large skillet, heat a tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat. Add lemon juice, garlic, and the shrimp and cook for 3-4 minutes on each side.
- Once the pasta is done, drain it and add it to your shrimp.
- Serve the shrimp pasta, topped with the vegetable and fruit mixture. The flavor combination of everything is phenomenal!
Mediterranean Shrimp Pasta
Equipment
- Mixing bowl
- Skillet
- Baking dish
- Medium-sized pot
- Measuring cups and spoons
Ingredients
- 1 lb of wild-caught shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes halved
- 1 cup pitted kalamata olives
- 1/2 cup feta cheese or 1/2 a block of feta
- 1/2 of red onion chopped
- 1/2 cup parsley chopped
- 1/4 cup olive oil +1 tablespoon for sauteing the shrimp
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- salt and pepper to taste
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1/2 of a lemon juiced
- 8 oz whole wheat or brown rice pasta
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F.
- Halve your tomatoes, chop your onion and parsley
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the tomatoes, olives, onion, parsley, 1/4 cup of olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper, and mix well.
- Transfer the mixture to a baking dish and place your block of feta cheese in the middle of the mixture and bake for 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, cook your pasta according to the instructions on the box.
- While the pasta cooks, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat on the stove. Add the lemon juice, garlic, and shrimp. Cook for 3-4 minutes on each side
- Once the pasta is done, drain it and add it to the shrimp.
- Serve the shrimp pasta with the fruit and vegetable topping and enjoy the incredible flavors! Garnish with additional parsley, feta, and lemon if desired.
- This meal can be stored in your refrigerator in an air-tight container for 3 days.
Nutrition
Did you try this recipe?
If so, let me know! I would love to know how you enjoyed it, thank you so much for reading, and happy eating! 🙂
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