Creamy Shrimp
This is the bowl I make when I want a sauce worth dipping bread into and I still need dinner in 25 minutes. Shrimp sear first so they keep a little color, then garlic, tomato, and a short pour of cream turn the pan into the pale orange sauce in the photo. Spinach wilts in at the end and stays green. The bread is for the bowl, not mixed into the sauce.
The Mediterranean part is the base: olive oil, garlic, tomato, spinach, and seafood. Cream is the finish, not the whole pot. Too much and it looks like chowder. A half cup for four bowls is enough to coat the shrimp and still show the tomato. If you want it lighter, half-and-half works. The flavor stays the same. The color just goes a shade paler.
I ladle it into wide white bowls, shrimp on top, parsley over that, toast standing at the side. It feeds four with bread and three if the bowls are the whole meal. The sauce thickens as it sits, so save a splash of the shrimp juices if you are reheating it the next day.
Why you'll love it
- One skillet, done in 25 minutes.
- Shrimp stay pink on top, not boiled in the sauce.
- Light cream, tomato, and spinach, not a heavy roux.
- Plates like the photo: white bowl, toast on the side.
Anti-Inflammatory & Mediterranean Recipes
Creamy Shrimp
- Prep10 min
- Cook15 min
- Total25 min
- Servings4 servings
- Calories340 kcal
Ingredients
- Shrimp
- Sauce
Instructions
- Pat the shrimp dry. Toss with salt, pepper, and paprika.
- Heat 1 Tbsp olive oil in a wide skillet over medium-high. Sear the shrimp 1 minute per side, until just pink. Move them to a plate. They will finish in the sauce.
- Add the second tablespoon of oil and the garlic. Stir 30 seconds. Add the tomatoes and cook 2 minutes, until they soften.
- Pour in the broth and scrape the pan. Stir in the cream, salt, and pepper. Simmer 2 minutes, until the sauce looks lightly glossy.
- Add the spinach and stir until it wilts, about 1 minute. Nestle the shrimp back in and warm 1 minute. Do not boil.
- Spoon into bowls, finish with parsley, and serve with toasted bread on the side.
Notes & Tips
- Sear first, sauce second. Shrimp cooked only in cream stay pale.
- Pull them when they curl into a loose C. A tight circle means they are overdone.
- Simmer the sauce before the shrimp go back in. A hard boil can split the cream.
- Toast the bread while the sauce reduces. Cold bread does not match this bowl.
- Nutrition: Per serving (1/4 of the skillet, no bread). Estimate, with heavy cream.
- Nutrition: Net carbohydrates: 5g
- Nutrition: WW estimate: 7 points on the current plan (cream and oil carry the points; plain shrimp is usually 0). A thick slice of bread adds about 3 to 5 points.
- Fridge: 2 days, covered. Reheat gently with a splash of broth so the sauce loosens. Do not boil.
- Not a great freezer dish once the cream is in. Freeze the raw shrimp instead.
- Nutrition is an estimate from shrimp, tomato, spinach, broth, and 1/2 cup heavy cream. Half-and-half drops the fat.
Variations & serving ideas
- Lighter: use half-and-half instead of heavy cream.
- Dairy-free: use full-fat coconut milk. The sauce will be slightly sweet.
- No spinach: use a handful of chopped kale and give it 2 minutes.
- Higher protein: add another 4 oz shrimp. The sauce can take it.
- No bread: the bowl is a meal without it. Cauliflower rice on the side keeps it lower carb.
Nutrition Facts
Per serving · makes 4 servings
| Nutrient | Amount per serving |
|---|---|
| Calories | 340 kcal |
| Total fat | 20 g |
| Sodium | 780 mg |
| Total carbohydrate | 6 g |
| Fibre | 1 g |
| Protein | 34 g |
Nutrition values are approximate and vary with brands and portion sizes.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to make Creamy Shrimp?
About 25 minutes in total: 10 minutes of prep and 15 minutes of cooking.
What ingredients do I need for Creamy Shrimp?
The key ingredients include shrimp, chicken, garlic, cherry tomatoes, spinach and crusty bread. The recipe card lists every ingredient with exact amounts.
How many servings does this recipe make?
It makes 4 servings.
How many calories are in one serving?
According to the recipe's nutrition information, one serving has about 340 calories, 34 g protein, 6 g carbohydrates and 20 g fat.
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