I decided to combine two of my favorites together, shrimp scampi and veggie stir fry. The combination is a winner! The lemony shrimp mixed with the vegetables is a perfect pair. Keeping with the Italian theme I served it over farro. It's so good and is so colorful. This is a must try.
Ingredients for Shrimp Scampi Stir Fry:
1 pound shrimp, 31-40 per pound, cleaned
1/2 pound string beans, trimmed and halved
1/2 fennel bulb, cored and diced
1/2 red bell pepper, diced
1/2 yellow bell pepper, diced
1/2 orange bell pepper, diced
1/2 cup diced red onion
zest of 1 lemon
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice, from 1 lemon
1/2 cup white wine or dry vermouth
3 dried red chili peppers or 1/4 teaspoon crushes red pepper
4-5 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
2 tablespoons chopped basil
kosher salt
black pepper
serve over farro
Time-Saving Tips: The vegetables can be prepped in advance. The farro can also be made in advance and reheated.
Let's see what we need.
We're ready to to cook.
Cook the farro according to the package directions. Feel free to substitute broth for some or all of the water. Basically, it is 1 cup of farro to 3 cups of liquid. Rinse farro, add to pot with liquid. Bring to boil and then reduce to a simmer. Cook for about 25-30 minutes until tender. Strain any extra liquid. Set aside.
Be sure to have all of the ingredients prepped and ready to go before you start cooking. Once you start cooking your meal will be ready in about 5 minutes so there is no wiggle room to take stop and chop.
Heat the oil in a pan and then add the onion, fennel, and string beans. Season with 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Saute for 2 minutes and then add all of the bell peppers and the hot pepper; add another 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Saute another 2 minutes.
Make some space in the middle of the pan and then add the shrimp and garlic. Season with some salt and pepper. Toss a little in the middle and then combine with the veggie mixture.
Once the shrimp is almost cooked add the wine. Simmer about 30 seconds and then add the lemon juice and zest. Toss everything together.
Add the parsley and basil. Adjust seasoning.
It's ready! This is so delicious that it's hard to stop going back for more. The shrimp, the vegetables, the lemony flavor...yum! You can't see it but there is a scoop of farro in the bowl under the stir fry. I love the nuttiness and chewiness of the farro; it really adds to the whole dish. Give this one a try tonight...you'll love it!
Enjoy!