Mediterranean Shrimp Bowl (Printable)

Succulent shrimp with Mediterranean vegetables, grains, and creamy tahini sauce.

# What You Need:

→ Shrimp

01 - 1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
05 - 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
06 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Grains

07 - 1 cup cooked quinoa

→ Mediterranean Vegetables

08 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
09 - 1 cup cucumber, diced
10 - 1/2 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and halved
11 - 1/2 cup red onion, thinly sliced
12 - 1 cup baby spinach or arugula

→ Tahini Sauce

13 - 1/4 cup tahini
14 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
15 - 2 tablespoons water, plus more as needed
16 - 1 clove garlic, minced
17 - 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
18 - 1/4 teaspoon sea salt

→ Garnish

19 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
20 - Lemon wedges for serving

# How To Make It:

01 - Cook grains according to package instructions and set aside to cool slightly.
02 - In a medium bowl, combine shrimp with olive oil, minced garlic, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Toss until evenly coated.
03 - Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Add seasoned shrimp and cook for 2 to 3 minutes per side until pink and opaque. Transfer to a plate.
04 - In a small bowl, whisk together tahini, lemon juice, water, minced garlic, cumin, and salt until smooth. Add additional water if needed to achieve desired consistency.
05 - Divide cooked grains among serving bowls. Layer with spinach, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, olives, and red onion.
06 - Distribute cooked shrimp evenly over vegetables. Drizzle each bowl generously with tahini sauce.
07 - Garnish with chopped parsley and serve with lemon wedges. Serve immediately while shrimp is warm.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The entire bowl comes together in about 35 minutes, making it perfect for nights when you want something restaurant-quality without the delivery wait.
  • It's naturally dairy-free and packed with protein and fiber, so you actually feel satisfied instead of reaching for snacks an hour later.
  • The tahini sauce is creamy and luxurious but made from just six simple ingredients you probably already have.
02 -
  • Don't overcook the shrimp—I learned this the hard way years ago when I left them in the pan for five minutes thinking they needed more time, and they turned into little rubber balls.
  • Whisk the tahini sauce right before serving because it thickens as it sits; a splash of warm water brings it back to life if needed.
  • The warm shrimp against the cool vegetables creates magic, so serve this immediately instead of letting it sit around.
03 -
  • Buy pre-cooked grains in the refrigerated section if you're short on time; they're more expensive but cut your prep time in half and taste nearly as good as homemade.
  • Toast your cumin in a dry skillet for 30 seconds before adding it to the tahini sauce if you want a deeper, more fragrant flavor—it's a small step that makes a noticeable difference.
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