Shrimp scampi is a favorite dinner of mine (you can see one of my favorite recipes here). It’s all butter and white wine and comes together so quickly that it makes a fantastic weeknight dinner. Yum!
This is a lighter version than my usual go-to. It’s a little less butter, and instead of copious amounts of white pasta, it includes quinoa as the main grain.
Even though this is a bit lighter version, I promise it is no less delicious. I highly recommend you make this for yourself this week.
Quinoa Shrimp Scampi, serves two.
3/4 cup uncooked quinoa (I used a mix of traditional and red just for color)
1/2 pound cooked or uncooked shrimp
1 small onion
3 cloves of garlic
2 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/3 cup white wine (any brand/vintage you like to drink; I used Chardonnay)
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
salt + pepper
3 tablespoons fresh parsley
1 lemon
Begin by cooking the quinoa. Follow the directions on the package. To add flavor, replace some (or all) of the water with vegetable stock.
Dice the onion and mince the garlic. If needed, remove the skins and tails from the shrimp. If you are using uncooked shrimp, first cook them in a pan with a little olive oil over medium heat until they are opaque in color.
I often use precooked shrimp to make weeknight dinners super fast to make, and that’s what I did here. If you are using precooked shrimp then there’s no need to cook it ahead of the veggies.
In a pan, combine the butter and olive oil. Over medium heat, sauté the onion and garlic for a couple of minutes. Then toss in the cooked shrimp. Season with salt and pepper. Cook another couple of minutes.
Now pour in the wine, and add the cheese and red pepper flakes. Once the quinoa is ready, toss that in as well. Cook until most of the liquid has evaporated.
Sprinkle on the parsley and squeeze on some fresh lemon juice. Serve with a salad or your favorite vegetable side dish and enjoy!
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Ingredients
- ¾ cup uncooked quinoa (I used a mix of traditional and red for color)
- ½ pound shrimp (cooked or uncooked )
- 1 small onion
- 3 cloves of garlic
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ⅓ cup white wine (I used Chardonnay)
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese (shredded)
- salt + pepper
- 3 tablespoons parsley (fresh )
- 1 lemon
Instructions
- Begin by cooking the quinoa. Follow the directions on the package. To add flavor, replace some (or all) of the water with vegetable stock.
- Dice the onion and mince the garlic. If needed, remove the skins and tails from the shrimp. If you are using uncooked shrimp, first cook them in a pan with a little olive oil over medium heat until they are opaque in color.
- In a pan, combine the butter and olive oil. Over medium heat, sauté the onion and garlic for a couple of minutes. Then, toss in the cooked shrimp. Season with salt and pepper. Cook another couple of minutes.
- Now pour in the wine, and add the cheese and red pepper flakes. Once the quinoa is ready, toss that in as well. Cook until most of the liquid has evaporated.
- Sprinkle on the parsley and squeeze on some fresh lemon juice. Serve with a salad or your favorite vegetable side dish and enjoy!
Notes
- I often use precooked shrimp to make weeknight dinners super fast to make, and that’s what I did here. If you are using precooked shrimp then there’s no need to cook it ahead of the veggies.
mmm… this looks so yummy!! i’m definitely going to give it a try! thank you so much :))
I just made this and it was so easy and Good!!
Thank you for this recipe, so great after a long day of work to be done with a tasty meal in less than 20min.
The quinoa makes it so much healthier and I started with a quick salade first. Parfait!
Yum! So summery.
http://alliewaydesign.blogspot.com
The results are in! I made it last night and it was absolutely delicious! I did used flavoured Quinoa however (Garlic and Herb Quinoa) so I’m not sure if that drastically changed the original flavour (it tasted amazing to me).
remind to self: don’t open abeautifulmess when hungry.
I always love a new take on an old fave and this is no exception. The photos are delicious and I feel hungry now!!! Those green beans are a nice way to perk up this dinner.
I just made this and am eating as I write this (dinnertime in Australia)…I usually use quinoa for breakfast bowls and never quite know how to put it in a dinner. This is SO yum! Will definitely become a weekday dinner favourite in our home!
Another killer (and healthy) recipe from Emma – I love them! This looks delicious I might just give it a go.
www.dancingthroughsunday.typepad.com
This looks so delicious, I would never have thought to try a recipe like this. You always post the most amazing recipes and I always love everything I try so I can’t wait to make this too! XO, D
This looks so good! My husband does NOT like shrimp, so I’ll have to make a plate for one sometime. 🙂
http://fraukuech.blogspot.com
yum!! shrimp scampi is the best!
xxoo,
nikki
www.dream-in-neon.com
Any chance when posting recipes you guys can also post an easy printable version? Whenever I try to print an ABM recipe it prints really wonky with half a picture on one page and the rest of the picture on the other, often the list of ingredients will be split between 2 pages as well. This is even after I change the page scaling and manipulate the print job. Maybe a PDF document with just the ingredients and instructions?
I’m trying this recipe tonight wonky print job or not 🙂
This is such a great alternative! I love making scampi, but I always feel a bit guilty for eating the carb and fat-laden sauce. Can’t wait to give this lighter version a try!
<3 dani
www.shopdisowned.com
http://blog.shopdisowned.com
I love this recipe. I’ve been experimenting substituting quinoa for rice in a variety of recipes. I’ve also made the shrimp with the quinoa and pesto, which is yummy and easy. It really is so easy and the protein punch is terrific!
I am such a big fan of shrimp! Would love to try this one. Thanks for the recipe! 😀
This recipe looks so delicious and healthy!
I’m confused why it’s called shrimp scampi in the US though – in England, scampi is a breaded shrimp/prawn, so I’m curious what it actually means in the US!
This looks delicious! I’m feeling a bit uninspired with my healthy eating atm so I’ll definitely give this a try!
www.peonyandpeach.blogspot.com
This looks so delicious! 😉
Unfortunately I never ate shrimp…
http://mademoisellejuliet.blogspot.com/
Although I am vegeterian but it looks so yummy and delicious, Thanks for sharing!
I’ve still never tried quinoa! How crazy is that? I love shrimp though, so I definitely will have to give this a go.
-Steph