# Shrimp Orzo Pasta Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette

## Description
A quick and easy pasta salad featuring juicy pan-seared shrimp, orzo pasta, fresh vegetables, and crumbled feta cheese, all tossed in a tangy balsamic vinaigrette.

## Quick Facts
- Calories: 475 per serving
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Servings: 4
- Difficulty: easy
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
- Health Score: 7/10

## Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 475
- Protein: 30g
- Carbohydrates: 53g
- Fat: 16g
- Fiber: 3g
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 750mg

## Dietary Information
This recipe is: Nut-Free

## Ingredients (4 servings)
- 1 lb Frozen Shrimp (peeled and deveined)
- 3 tbsp Olive Oil
- 1 tsp Salt
- 0.5 tsp Black Pepper
- 1 tsp Dried Oregano
- 0.25 cup Balsamic Vinegar
- 1 tsp Dijon Mustard
- 1.5 cup Orzo Pasta (dry, cooked according to package directions)
- 1 cup Cucumber (diced)
- 1.5 cup Cherry Tomatoes (halved)
- 0.5 cup Feta Cheese (crumbled)
- 0.25 cup Green Onions (chopped)
- 0.25 cup Fresh Parsley (chopped)

## Instructions
1. Place 1 lb of frozen shrimp in a bowl and cover with room temperature water to thaw quickly.
2. Once thawed, peel and devein the shrimp.
3. Pat the peeled and deveined shrimp dry thoroughly with paper towels.
4. Season the shrimp with 1 teaspoon of salt, 0.5 teaspoon of black pepper, and 1 teaspoon of dried oregano. Toss to coat evenly.
5. Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a pan over medium-high heat. Add the seasoned shrimp and cook until pink and opaque, about 2-3 minutes per side.
6. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together 0.25 cup of balsamic vinegar, 2 tablespoons of olive oil, 1 teaspoon of Dijon mustard, and a pinch of salt and pepper to create the vinaigrette.
7. Add the cooked 1.5 cups of orzo pasta and the cooked shrimp to the bowl with the vinaigrette.
8. Add 1 cup of diced cucumber, 1.5 cups of halved cherry tomatoes, 0.5 cup of crumbled feta cheese, 0.25 cup of chopped green onions, and 0.25 cup of chopped fresh parsley to the bowl.
9. Toss all ingredients together until well combined.
10. Serve the pasta salad immediately or chill for later enjoyment.

## Allergen Information
Contains: shellfish, dairy, gluten

## Tags
pasta salad, shrimp, mediterranean, quick meal, healthy, summer recipe

## Machine-Readable Data

### Recipe Metadata
```json
{
  "id": "1e0e35ca-071b-4fa4-9034-fd2b2ce190d5",
  "youtube_id": "nUlRw7kchXc",
  "title": "Shrimp Orzo Pasta Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette",
  "cuisine_type": "Mediterranean",
  "meal_type": [
    "lunch",
    "dinner"
  ],
  "difficulty_level": "easy",
  "servings": 4,
  "prep_time_minutes": 20,
  "cook_time_minutes": 10,
  "total_time_minutes": 30,
  "health_score": 7,
  "created_at": "2025-07-22T11:10:08.000Z",
  "updated_at": "2025-07-22T11:10:08.000Z"
}
```

### Ingredients Data
```json
{
  "servings": 4,
  "ingredients": [
    {
      "name": "Frozen Shrimp",
      "amount": 1,
      "unit": "lb",
      "notes": "peeled and deveined"
    },
    {
      "name": "Olive Oil",
      "amount": 3,
      "unit": "tbsp",
      "notes": null
    },
    {
      "name": "Salt",
      "amount": 1,
      "unit": "tsp",
      "notes": null
    },
    {
      "name": "Black Pepper",
      "amount": 0.5,
      "unit": "tsp",
      "notes": null
    },
    {
      "name": "Dried Oregano",
      "amount": 1,
      "unit": "tsp",
      "notes": null
    },
    {
      "name": "Balsamic Vinegar",
      "amount": 0.25,
      "unit": "cup",
      "notes": null
    },
    {
      "name": "Dijon Mustard",
      "amount": 1,
      "unit": "tsp",
      "notes": null
    },
    {
      "name": "Orzo Pasta",
      "amount": 1.5,
      "unit": "cup",
      "notes": "dry, cooked according to package directions"
    },
    {
      "name": "Cucumber",
      "amount": 1,
      "unit": "cup",
      "notes": "diced"
    },
    {
      "name": "Cherry Tomatoes",
      "amount": 1.5,
      "unit": "cup",
      "notes": "halved"
    },
    {
      "name": "Feta Cheese",
      "amount": 0.5,
      "unit": "cup",
      "notes": "crumbled"
    },
    {
      "name": "Green Onions",
      "amount": 0.25,
      "unit": "cup",
      "notes": "chopped"
    },
    {
      "name": "Fresh Parsley",
      "amount": 0.25,
      "unit": "cup",
      "notes": "chopped"
    }
  ]
}
```

### Nutrition Data (per serving)
```json
{
  "calories": 475,
  "macros": {
    "protein_g": 30,
    "carbs_g": 53,
    "fat_g": 16,
    "fiber_g": 3,
    "sugar_g": 6,
    "sodium_mg": 750
  },
  "dietary_tags": {
    "vegan": false,
    "vegetarian": false,
    "gluten_free": false,
    "dairy_free": false,
    "nut_free": true
  }
}
```

---
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