Mediterranean Shrimp Bowl (Printer-friendly)

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

# What You'll Need:

→ Shrimp

01 - 1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined
02 - 1 tbsp olive oil
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
05 - 1/2 tsp sea salt
06 - 1/4 tsp 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 tbsp fresh lemon juice
15 - 2 tbsp water, plus more as needed
16 - 1 clove garlic, minced
17 - 1/4 tsp ground cumin
18 - 1/4 tsp sea salt

→ Garnish

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

# How-To Steps:

01 - Prepare quinoa 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 throughout. Transfer to a plate.
04 - In a small bowl, whisk together tahini, lemon juice, water, minced garlic, cumin, and salt until smooth and creamy. Add additional water if needed to achieve desired consistency.
05 - Divide cooked quinoa among serving bowls. Layer baby spinach, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, olives, and red onion on top of the grains.
06 - Top each bowl with sautéed shrimp and drizzle generously with tahini sauce.
07 - Garnish each bowl with chopped parsley and serve immediately with lemon wedges.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • It comes together faster than ordering takeout, yet tastes like you spent hours in the kitchen.
  • The tahini sauce is so creamy and tangy that it makes even simple vegetables feel luxurious.
  • You can prep components ahead and assemble the bowl minutes before eating, perfect for weeknight dinners or meal prep.
02 -
  • Don't skip seasoning the shrimp beforehand—raw shrimp takes seasoning beautifully, and it makes the final dish taste infinitely more developed than if you season them just before searing.
  • Tahini sauce separates and thickens as it sits, so whisk it fresh right before serving and keep the consistency on the pourable side rather than thick.
03 -
  • Buy pre-cooked grains from the grocery store on days when you're short on time—they're more expensive but shave off 30 minutes of cooking and the result is nearly identical.
  • Prep all your vegetables the morning of and store them in separate containers; you'll have a meal that comes together in under 15 minutes once you get home.
Go Back