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Lemony Shrimp Saganaki with Feta

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  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 25 minutes
  • Total Time: 40 minutes
  • Yield: 8
  • Category: Main Course
  • Cuisine: Greek, Mediterranean

Description

A skillet of juicy shrimp in a thick, zesty tomato sauce topped with just-melty feta, a few briny olive flecks, and a shower of herbs—same iconic look, smarter nutrition.


Ingredients

Scale

Shrimp & Quick Marinade

  • lb 680 g large shrimp, peeled and deveined, patted very dry
  • 1 tsp extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic (finely minced)
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • ½ tsp dried dill
  • ½ tsp red pepper flakes (or Aleppo pepper)
  • Finely grated zest of ½ lemon
  • Freshly ground black pepper

Sauce Base

  • 1 tsp extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 large red onion (finely chopped (about 1½ cups))
  • 1 small carrot (⅛-inch dice)
  • 1 small red bell pepper (⅛-inch dice)
  • 1 small zucchini (coarsely grated and squeezed dry)
  • 3 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 2 Tbsp tomato paste (no-salt-added if possible)
  • 1 can (26 oz / ~737 g no-salt-added diced tomatoes, with juices)
  • 1 cup cooked red lentils (blended perfectly smooth with ½ cup warm tomato sauce from the pan)
  • 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice (plus wedges to serve or 2 tsp red wine vinegar)
  • ½ tsp dried oregano
  • ½ tsp dried dill
  • Freshly ground black pepper (to taste)

Finish & Garnish

  • 2 oz 56 g reduced-sodium Greek feta, crumbled
  • 6 Kalamata olives (pitted, finely chopped, rinsed and soaked 5 minutes in cool water, then patted dry)
  • ¼ cup flat-leaf parsley (chopped)
  • 2 Tbsp fresh mint (chopped)
  • Optional to Serve (not included in nutrition: whole-wheat orzo or hearty whole-grain bread for dipping)


Instructions

  1. Brine-Tame & Toss : Rinse the olives under warm water, soak 5 minutes in cool water, drain, and pat dry. In a bowl, combine shrimp with 1 tsp EVOO, minced garlic, oregano, dill, red pepper flakes, lemon zest, and a few grinds of black pepper. Set aside while you start the sauce.
  2. Micro-Dice Foundation : Heat 1 tsp EVOO in an oven-safe skillet over medium. Add onion and carrot; cook 4–5 minutes until translucent and sweet. Stir in bell pepper and the squeezed zucchini; cook 2–3 minutes. Add garlic and cook 30 seconds.
  3. Tomato Lift-Off : Clear a spot in the pan and cook the tomato paste for 60–90 seconds until brick red. Add the no-salt-added tomatoes with juices. Bring to a lively simmer.
  4. Stealth Fiber Boost : Ladle about ½ cup of the hot tomato mixture into a blender with the cooked red lentils; blend completely smooth. Return the purée to the skillet. Simmer 7–10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens enough to hold a spoon trail.
  5. Herb-Citrus Brightening : Stir in lemon juice (or red wine vinegar), the remaining oregano and dill, and a few grinds of black pepper. Taste for brightness; it should be savory and zesty without added salt.
  6. Gentle Poach for Plush Shrimp : Nestle the marinated shrimp into the sauce in a single layer. Cover and cook over medium-low for 4–5 minutes, flipping once, just until the shrimp turn pink and opaque. Do not overcook.
  7. Feta Flicker : Scatter the crumbled reduced-sodium feta and the chopped, de-salted olives over the top. Slide the skillet under a preheated broiler for 60–90 seconds to just soften the cheese.
  8. Green Finish & Serve : Shower with parsley and mint. Add a final squeeze of lemon if you like. Serve hot with whole-wheat orzo or sturdy whole-grain bread (optional).

Notes

  • Sodium-smart moves: no-salt-added tomatoes, reduced-sodium feta, rinsed/soaked olives, and flavor lifted with herbs, garlic, chile, and lemon instead of salt.
  • Invisible texture & fiber: the blended red lentils vanish into the sauce yet deliver body like a long simmer.
  • Don’t overcook shrimp: pull when just opaque and C-shaped (tight O-shape = overdone).

Nutrition Facts

Per serving: 1/8 of recipe (estimates)

  • Calories: 192 kcal
  • Protein: 25.4 g
  • Total Carbohydrates: 15.1 g
  • Dietary Fiber: 4.4 g
  • Total Sugars: 6.0 g
  • Added Sugars: 0 g
  • Total Fat: 4.0 g
  • Saturated Fat: 1.4 g
  • Cholesterol: 166 mg
  • Sodium: 198 mg
  • Potassium: 707 mg
  • Calcium: 128 mg
  • Iron: 2.21 mg

All nutrition values are calculated from the listed ingredients and may vary with brands and exact measurements.


Nutrition

  • Calories: 192