Greek Shrimp Saganaki

 

If you've ever explored Greece, you can't miss the mouthwatering shrimp saganaki served in every Psarotaverna (Translation: Fish Tavern)! Recreate this beloved Greek appetizer in under 20 minutes with this recipe—straight from the magical island of Santorini back in the '70s. Dive into a taste of tradition today!

What I adore about this Greek Shrimp Saganaki recipe is its divine combination of flavors! The shrimp, or “garides,” are sautéed in olive oil, deglazed with traditional ouzo, and simmered in a spicy tomato sauce crowned with fresh herbs and tangy feta. Simply irresistible! Dive into my scrumptious Greek Shrimp Saganaki recipe for tips on making it perfectly delicious!

Discover the delightful taste of Greek shrimp saganaki! This traditional dish features medium to large shrimp or prawns, deglazed in Ouzo for an irresistible flavor boost.  Served in a charming two-handled baking dish, it’s a twist on the beloved cheese saganaki appetizer. Named after the ‘sagani’ frying pan, enjoy this classic alongside Feta Saganaki and mussels saganaki!

Ingredients

25 medium prawns

4 ripe, juicy tomatoes, finely chopped

1 red onion, finely chopped

some hot chili pepper, according to preferance

2 spring onions, sliced (optional)

2 cloves of garlic, chopped

¼ cup Greek Ouzo

2 tbsps. fresh dill or parsley, chopped

feta cheese, crumbled or cubed (8 oz.)

olive oil

salt and freshly ground pepper

a pinch of sweet paprika (optional)

Instructions

To prepare this Greek shrimp saganaki recipe, start by peeling and cleaning the shrimps.

Continue preparing the sauce. To prepare the sauce for this shrimp saganaki recipe, dice the fresh tomatoes into small cubes and let them strain in a colander, so that no excess water is added to the sauce.

Begin with the sauce for the shrimp saganaki. Heat the olive oil over medium-high heat, add the chopped onion, and sauté for 1 minute. Stir in the chopped garlic, chili peppers, and season with salt and pepper. Sauté all the ingredients together for 1 more minute. Add the chopped tomatoes, cover with the lid, bring to the boil, and let simmer for approximately. 5 minutes, until the sauce thickens slightly.

In the meantime, sauté the shrimps for this shrimp saganaki recipe. Season the shrimps with salt and pepper on both sides. Heat a large saucepan over medium heat and add 3-4 tbsps. olive oil. Add the shrimps and sauté for 1 minute, and deglaze with the ouzo.

Pour the sauce in the saucepan along with the shrimps and stir. Top the shrimp saganaki with the crumbled or cubed feta cheese, place the lid on, and cook for 2 more minutes, until the feta slightly melts.

Garnish the shrimp saganaki with chopped parsley or dill and serve it while it is still hot. Enjoy this traditional Greek shrimp saganaki recipe with a cold glass of ouzo!

Elizabeth Kilbride is a Writer and Editor with forty years of experience in writing, including 12 years in the online content sphere. Author of 5 books and a Graduate with an Associate of Arts degree in Business Management, a bachelor’s in mass communication and cyber-analysis, a master’s in criminology with emphasis on Cybercrime and Identity Theft, and is currently studying for her Ph.D. degree in Criminology. Her work portfolio includes coverage of politics, current affairs, elections, history, and true crime. Elizabeth is also a gourmet cook, life coach, and avid artist in her spare time, proficient in watercolor, acrylic, oil, pen and ink, gouache, and pastels. As a political operative who has worked on over 300 campaigns during her career, Elizabeth has turned many life events into books and movie scripts while using history to weave interesting storylines. She also runs 7 blogs ranging from art to life coaching, food, writing, Gardening, and opinion or history pieces each week.

Greek Cuisine, Kilbride, Potpourri of Frugality, Homemade