Baked Orzo with Shrimp, Tomato Sauce, and Feta

Submitted by Babs in Toyland

"If you like Feta cheese you are going to love this dish. Very easy to make and a real crowd pleaser! Recipe from Gourmet Magazine."

 

• Ready In: 1hr 5mins
• Ingredients: 12
• Serves: 6-8

ingredients

• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1⁄2 teaspoon dried oregano, crumbled
• 1⁄4 teaspoon dried hot red chili pepper flakes
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1⁄2 cup dry white wine
• 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 1⁄2 lbs large shrimp, shelled and deveined
• 1 lb orzo pasta
• 1⁄2 cup kalamata olives or 1/2 cup other oil-cured olives, pitted and chopped
• 1 lb feta cheese, patted dry and crumbled (3 cups)

directions

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
2. Cook onion, garlic, oregano and red pepper flakes in 1 tablespoon oil in a 4 quart pot over moderately high heat, stirring, until onion is softened, about 3 minutes.
3. Add wine and boil until reduced by half, about 3 minutes.
4. Stir in tomatoes and salt and reduce heat, and simmer briskly, stirring often, until slightly thickened, about 8 minutes.
5. Stir shrimp into sauce and simmer, stirring occasionally, until shrimp are just cooked through, about 3 minutes.
6. While sauce and shrimp are cooking, cook orzo in a 6 quart pot of boiling salted water until al dente.
7. Reserve 1/2 cup of the cooking water, then drain in a sieve.
8. Return orzo to pot and toss with remaining tablespoon oil.
9. Stir in sauce with shrimp and reserved cooking water, then add olives and salt and pepper, to taste.
10. Spoon 1/2 of pasta into an oiled 13 X 9 by 2 inch glass baking dish, then sprinkle with 1/2 of the feta.
11. Top with remaining pasta and feta, then bake in middle of the oven, uncovered, until cheese is slightly melted and pasta is heated through, about 10-15 minutes.