Whip up this pasta salad for a healthy make-ahead meal or to bring to a potluck. Whole wheat pasta, perfectly seared shrimp and artichokes make a fantastic combination!
Having a 9-year old boy, particularly the 9-year old boy (T) that lives in our house, keeps one on one's toes. I've written about his Bigfoot hunting escapades and his elaborately-designed leprechaun traps. Now that the weather is getting nicer, T and his friends head into the field behind our house and spend hours building forts, preparing for invasion (by Bigfoot, I assume) and fashioning bows and arrows from random sticks they find.
In fact, as I write this, I'm watching him climb over the wall, stick in hand, to enter into his land of make-believe battles and spy escapades.
It's an existence that I read about in books, and it makes my heart burst to see T disappear into the world of imaginary lands and times. It's free from iPads and video games (though he did spend his fair share of time with these devices), and it brings him nothing but joy.
Of course, it's also an existence that seems to involve a lot of sharp sticks. I find myself yelling, "Don't run with that that death poker in your hand!"
"Stop swinging that thing around! You're going to take someone's eye out!"
I think it's my prerogative to yell these things. It's what mothers do. There's a reason why we're told not to run with scissors in our hand. The same can be said for sharp sticks that are taller than my husband, yielded by a 9-year old boy.
Learning the ways and thought processes of a young boy is an adventure unto itself, and there are many times I just don't get it right.
T: "Should I light off a firecracker in my classroom?"
Me: "Why would you want to do that?"
T: "Because chicks dig bad boys."
Hmmm....
While I can't read T's mind 97% of the time, I can tell you exactly what kinds of food he craves.
Shrimp is at the top of the list. And so this pasta salad is for him. Whole wheat pasta, artichoke hearts, sun-dried tomatoes...and lots and lots of perfectly seared shrimp.
The next time he heads back to the fort, I might just pack him a tupperware of this pasta, all dressed up with a homemade Lemon Vinaigrette.
After all, a 9-year old boy needs all the fuel he can get, just in case he runs into Bigfoot.
Other whole wheat pasta recipes:
Cookin' Canuck's Roasted Tomato & Chicken Sausage Whole Wheat Pasta
Cookin' Canuck's Healthy Lasagne with Turkey, Pesto & Peppers
Bowl of Delicious!'s Pasta Puttanesca
If you make this recipe, I'd love to see it on Instagram! Just use the hashtag #COOKINCANUCK and I'll be sure to find it.
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Shrimp & Artichoke Whole Wheat Pasta Salad Recipe
Ingredients
The Dressing:
- 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon agave nectar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground pepper
- ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
The pasta salad::
- 12 ounces whole wheat orzo pasta
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1 pound large shrimp peeled & deveined
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground pepper
- 1 14 ounce can artichoke hearts, drained & quartered
- ⅓ cup sliced sun-dried tomatoes not packed in oil
- 5 large basil leaves thinly sliced
Instructions
The Dressing:
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, agave nectar, salt and pepper. While whisking, gradually pour in the olive oil until combined.
The Pasta Salad:
- Cook the orzo according to the package directions. Drain and rinse with cold water.
- Season the shrimp with salt and pepper. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet set over medium-high heat.
- Add the shrimp and sear until the shrimp are just cooked through, about 90 seconds per side.
- In a large bowl, combine the orzo, shrimp, artichokes, sun-dried tomatoes and basil.
- Pour the dressing into the salad and toss to combine. Serve.
Notes
Nutrition
Disclosure: I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
cheri
This is my kind of dish, what a great combination!
Carol at Wild Goose Tea
I love the recipe because its a very different pasta salad and chuck filled with
two of my favorite things. I too enjoyed reading about your son's adventures. I have a 2 yr old granddaughter. It has brought home how different the world is today then when I was raising my sons. What a challenge it is to give them balance between the old---which is the real---world and the new world, which is important for them to know well also. We as loving adults have our jobs cut out for us.
Kat
How many calories is that? Looks amazing
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
Kat, I could have sworn that I entered the nutritional information. I'm sorry about that! It is there now. I hope you enjoy the pasta salad!
Kat
Thank you very much! Made it today for dinner and everyone loved it!
Elizabeth @ Bowl of Delicious!
This looks amazing! It looks so light and refreshing for spring (if spring EVER gets here up in New England). I may try it and add some fresh dill, since I am obsessed with lemon-dill flavor, especially with artichokes. Yum yum, and thanks for linking to my Puttanesca recipe! Hope you liked it!
Jessica @ A Kitchen Addiction
This is my kind of pasta salad! Love the shrimp and artichoke combination!
Jeanette | Jeanette's Healthy Living
Love hearing about your son's adventures ;). And this shrimp orzo salad sounds really good!
Liz
Nice recipe. Thank you. Have a Great Day and Week!
Meagan @ A Zesty Bite
Oh man this pasta looks tasty!
Norma | Allspice and Nutmeg
This look delicious. I love all of the ingredients in this recipe. I think it's great that your son is playing outside rather than sitting in front of a screen playing video games.