25 January 2022

For anyone who loves the taste of garlic prawns, Garlicky Prawns with Orzo (or Risoni as it is known in Australia) is definitely one to try.

It is really easy to make and the whole family enjoyed it, including the slightly finicky 2 year old, although he happily handed the prawns over to his mum.

For the busy weeknight, it only takes about 35 mins and most of that is time in the oven.

The recipe is for 4 people, so if there is only 2 of you, just halve the ingredient list or have seconds. It is nice enough that you will want to go back for more.

Ingredients:

Juice from a 1/2 Lemon

1 tsp dried Basil leaves eg Masterfoods jar

1 Vegetable Stock cube dissolved in 650ml Boiling Water

350g Peeled Prawns (deveined if raw or cooked and peeled is fine)

2 cloves of Garlic crushed

Knob of Butter

500g Cherry Tomatoes – chopped in half

300g Ozo Pasta or Risoni Pasta (Australian name)

Ground Pepper for Taste

Preheat the oven to 220^o C/ 220^o C (fan) /425^o F. Ovenproof dish.

Method:

Place crushed garlic, basil and knob of butter into a small bowl and mix together well to make the garlic butter for the prawns. Add the Orzo/Risoni Pasta, stock and half the garlic butter to your ovenproof dish and stir all together. Place the chopped tomatoes evenly on top of the pasta, they should sink below the stock. Season with cracked pepper to taste. Place in the oven for 18 – 20 minutes or until the stock has been absorbed into the pasta.

Once the stock is nearly fully absorbed, commence cooking the prawns. Heat a wide-based frying pan over a medium to high heat. Add the remainder of the garlic butter and melt it (approx 1 minute), then add the lemon juice and prawns. Stir to coat the prawns in the sizzling garlic butter. If using raw prawns, cook for 4 – 5 minutes or until cooked through, if using pre-cooked prawns, heat the prawns, but don’t re-cook or they will be tough.

Take the tomato and pasta bake out of the oven and add the prawns and any remaining garlic butter on the top of the tomato Orzo/Risoni pasta bake. Serve immediately, garnished with the remaining lemon cut into wedges.

Enjoy!