Creamy Cajun Prawn Orzo

by BBC Good Food

I love to use orzo to make quick creamy pasta after a busy day at work, but you can use this sauce with any kind of pasta. I like to make my own Cajun spice mix as ready-made mixes often contain added salt, but if you don’t think you’ll use up all the individual spices, then take the ready-made option – just check the label to ensure it’s not too salty.

Method

Based on 2 servings, adjust as needed.

Step 1

Defrost the prawns if using frozen. Boil the orzo following pack instructions. Drain, reserving a cup of the cooking water. For the Cajun spice mix, combine the turmeric, garlic granules, dried oregano or thyme, ground cumin, ground coriander and smoked paprika in a small bowl and set aside.

Step 2

Heat the oil in a large, ovenproof pan over medium heat. Fry the onions until soft and lightly browned. Add the garlic and fry for 1 min, stirring so it doesn’t burn.

Step 3

Add the tomato purée, prawns and Cajun spice and fry for 1 min.

Step 4

Stir in the baby spinach, some salt and pepper, and cook until the spinach wilts and the prawns turn opaque. Stir in a splash of the reserved pasta cooking water, if needed, to loosen the sauce.

Step 5

Stir in the cooked orzo and crème fraîche, adding more pasta water as needed to adjust the consistency. Serve straightaway.

  • Ingredients
  • Based on 2 servings
  • 1 pinch Turmeric 1x Sainsbury's Turmeric 48g
  • 2tbsp Half Fat Crème Fraîche 1x Sainsbury's British Lighter Crème Fraîche 300ml
  • 200g Baby Spinach 1x Sainsbury's Baby Leaf Spinach 200g
  • 1tsp Smoked Paprika 1x Sainsbury's Smoked Paprika 44g
  • 0.5tsp Ground Cumin 1x Sainsbury's Ground Cumin 43g
  • 0.5tsp Ground Coriander 1x Sainsbury's Ground Coriander 36g
  • 0.5tsp Dried Oregano Or Thyme 1x Sainsbury's Oregano 12g
  • 0.5tsp Garlic Granules 1x Sainsbury's Garlic Granules 58g
  • 150g Orzo 1x Sainsbury's Orzo Pasta, Taste the Difference 500g
  • 1 Onion, chopped 1x Sainsbury's Onions Loose
  • 2tbsp Tomato Purée 1x Sainsbury's Tomato Puree, Double Concentrate 200g
  • 1tbsp Olive Oil 1x Sainsbury's Olive Oil 500ml
  • 2 Garlic Cloves, thinly sliced 1x Sainsbury's Garlic
  • 150g Raw Peeled King Prawns, defrosted 1x Sainsbury's Frozen Large Raw Peeled King Prawns ASC 180g
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