It’s a pretty well know fact about me that when I grow up I want to be Ina Garten. The Barefoot Contessa is my spirit animal. Well Ina and a unicorn, they are both my spirit animals. With that said, this recipe was adapted from an Ina recipe. Every time I make her version of this dish, no matter the crowd it always gets rave reviews. Easily one of my top go to meals when feeding a mixed crowd. I swapped out the orzo for chickpeas, as always I try to bump up the plant protein where I can. With my food intake being limited I rework my recipes to fit healthy fats and protein in whenever possible. The chickpea idea came from a crazy delicious dish I had while in Nashville. It was most of the same ingredients just swap the shrimp for avocado. No worries I will be attempting to recreate that awesomesauce dish in another post very soon. So, without further delay….
Roasted Shrimp with Herbed Feta Cheese and Chickpeas
Ingredients:
1/2 lb Frozen Shrimp, shell on
1/2 cup Feta Cheese, chopped
4 Scallions, chopped
1/4 cup Fresh Dill, chopped
1/4 cup FreshFlat Leaf Parsley, chopped
1 can Chick Peas
1/2 Lemon Zest and Juice
Salt and Pepper
Olive Oil
- Serving size for 4
Drizzle shrimp with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast at 350 until just pink and no longer translucent, keep an eye on them the cook really fast. The shell on version stay juicier than shell off. If you have shell on, wait till cool and peel and remove tails. Chop and prep all other ingredients while shrimp is cooking in oven. Use the drippings from the cooked shrimp as your sauce. Mix all ingredients in large bowl. Serve and enjoy.
Shrimp
Shrimp are one of the most versatile foods—sauteed, grilled, roasted, and you get a healthy portion of protein, selenium, and vitamin D. When possible, opt for wild-caught shrimp, which are lower in pesticides.
Serving size: 3 ounces
Calories: 84
Protein: 18 g
Fat: 1 g
Saturated: 0 g
Monounsaturated: 0 g
Polyunsaturated: 0 g
Carbohydrate: 0 g
Sugar: 0 g
Fiber: 0 g
Chick Peas
Chickpeas can lower blood pressure, reduce heart disease, lower blood sugar, strengthen bones, reduce cholesterol and inflammation, maintain weight and keep you full longer.
Serving Size: 1 tbsp
Calories: 46
Protein: 2.4 g
Fat: .8 g
Saturated: .1 g
Monounsaturated: .2 g
Polyunsaturated: .3 g
Carbohydrate: 8 g
Sugar: 1.3 g
Fiber: 2.2 g
Feta Cheese
One oz. of feta provides 14 percent of the recommended dietary allowance for calcium, based on a 2,000-calorie diet. It offers small amounts of many other vitamins and minerals, including 14 percent of the RDA for riboflavin, 8 percent for vitamin B12, 9 percent for phosphorus, 6 percent for vitamin B6, 6 percent for selenium and 5 percent for zinc.
Serving Size: 1 cup
Calories: 396
Protein: 21 g
Fat: 32 g
Saturated: 22 g
Monounsaturated: 7 g
Polyunsaturated: .9 g
Carbohydrate: 6 g
Sugar: 6 g
Fiber: 0 g
Parsley
Is an excellent of vitamin K and vitamin C as well as a good source of vitamin A, folate and iron
Lemon
Can help with indigestion, constipation, dental problems, throat infections, fever, internal bleeding, rheumatism, burns, obesity, respiratory disorders, cholera, and high blood pressure, while also benefiting your hair and skin. Known for its therapeutic property since generations, lemon helps strengthen your immune system, cleanse your stomach, and is considered a blood purifier.
Lemon juice, especially, has several health benefits associated with it. It is well known as a useful treatment for kidney stones, reducing strokes, and lowering body temperature.
Scallions
Are low in calories but contain a good amount of vitamin K, dietary fiber, vitamin C, vitamin A and folate.
Dill
may Help Reduce Menstrual Cramps, Help Reduce Depression, Lower Cholesterol, Contains Antimicrobial Effects. Has a significant amount of vitamin A and C, as well as trace amounts of folate, iron, and manganese.
Olive Oil
Rich in Healthy Monounsaturated Fats, Contains Large Amounts of Antioxidants, Has Strong Anti-Inflammatory Properties, May Help Prevent Strokes, Protective Against Heart Disease, Does Not Cause Weight Gain and Obesity.
Salt
Salt is essential for sustaining the hydration levels of the body. It is extremely vital to maintain the electrolyte balance for the smooth functioning of the organs. These electrolytes primarily entail magnesium, potassium, calcium, and sodium.
Pepper
Improves Digestion, may help with Weight Loss, Skin Care, Provides Respiratory Relief, Antibacterial Quality, Antioxidant Potential