Easy Healthy Lemon Garlic Shrimp (Print version)

Succulent shrimp sautéed in lemon and garlic, served atop fluffy brown rice and crisp veggies.

# What You'll Need:

→ Shrimp

01 - 1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 3 garlic cloves, minced
04 - 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
05 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
06 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
07 - Zest and juice of 1 medium lemon

→ Rice & Vegetables

08 - 2 cups cooked brown rice
09 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
10 - 1 cup cucumber, diced
11 - 1 avocado, diced
12 - 1/4 cup fresh parsley or cilantro, chopped

→ Garnish & Sauce

13 - 2 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt
14 - Lemon wedges, for serving

# How-To Steps:

01 - Pat shrimp dry with paper towels. In a medium bowl, combine shrimp with olive oil, minced garlic, sea salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, lemon zest, and half the lemon juice. Toss until evenly coated.
02 - Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add shrimp in a single layer and cook for 2 to 3 minutes per side until pink and opaque throughout. Remove from heat and drizzle with remaining lemon juice.
03 - While shrimp cooks, divide cooked brown rice evenly among 4 serving bowls. Layer with halved cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, diced avocado, and chopped fresh herbs.
04 - Arrange hot shrimp over prepared bowls. Drizzle with Greek yogurt if desired. Serve immediately with lemon wedges on the side.

# Tips from the pros:

01 -
  • Ready in 15 minutes, which means you can go from work stress to a nourishing dinner before hunger turns into grumpiness.
  • The shrimp stays tender and juicy while the bright lemon cuts through richness, making it taste way more elegant than the effort requires.
  • Built to customize: swap the rice, add heat, pile on whatever vegetables you have hanging around, no apologies needed.
02 -
  • Wet shrimp will steam instead of sear, so that paper towel step isn't fussy—it's the difference between tender and rubbery.
  • Don't walk away from the pan; shrimp cooks so fast that the moment you turn your back is when it goes from perfect to tough, and three minutes feels shorter when you're actually watching.
03 -
  • If your shrimp are frozen, thaw them slowly under cold running water instead of at room temperature; they'll stay firmer and more tender.
  • A squeeze of fresh lemon at the very end is the difference between good and bright—don't skip the second hit of citrus.
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