This healthier Orange Sesame Shrimp is a quick and flavorful weeknight dinner! Shrimp and broccoli tossed in a slightly sweet and spicy orange sesame sauce comes together in no time!
Oh hey everyone. How was the weekend? Mine was pretty awesome, actually. My mom has been visiting me, and we made the drive down to our old hometown of Eugene, Oregon. I got to spend the weekend with my best girls and get some nostalgia in the town I moved away from five years ago. If you follow me on snapchat (add me by searching: foxandbriar) you saw some of the fun and food going on, and oh yes, the wine. After the weekend filled with so much of that I am feeling the need for some healthier options this week. This healthier Orange Sesame Shrimp is at the top of my list.
I have mentioned before that I love to keep shrimp in my freezer for quick and healthy weeknight dinners. I prefer the raw, peeled, tail on shrimp. Buying them already peeled saves prep time, but uncooked is better so that you don’t end up with rubbery, overcooked shrimp. I love that you can thaw them in a few minutes under running water, and they only take a few minutes to cook as well. Frozen shrimp are the unsung hero of quick weeknight meals.
This Orange Sesame Shrimp is a quick and flavorful weeknight meal with a slightly sweet and spicy sauce that comes together in under half an hour.
All the prep this meal requires is thawing some shrimp (or not even that if you bought fresh shrimp), chopping up some broccoli, whisking together the sesame orange sauce and about 10 minutes of cook time. Oh, and you can make some rice to serve it with if you want (I like it with rice, or you can make cauliflower rice if you are going the low carb route). While you are cooking the shrimp and broccoli, the sauce is heated and reduced, then everything is tossed together and you are ready to eat!
What were you all up to this weekend? Do you ever go back to your old hometown, or do you still live there? What is visiting like for you?
Orange Sesame Shrimp
Ingredients
- 3/4 pounds shrimp raw, tail on
- 1 pound broccoli cut into florets
- 4 green onions diced, white and green parts separated
- sesame seeds optional, for garnish
For Sesame Orange Sauce
- 1 cup fresh orange juice about 2 oranges
- zest of one orange
- 2 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1-2 teaspoons chili garlic sauce to taste
- 3-4 garlic cloves pressed or finely minced
- 1 tablespoon grated ginger root
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
Instructions
- Whisk together all ingredients for Sesame Orange Sauce in a small saucepan. Heat to boiling, then reduce heat and simmer for about 10 minutes or until reduced by about half.
- Heat a large sauté pan over medium high heat. Quickly sear the shrimp, about 2 minutes per side, until shrimp are pink and cooked through. Remove shrimp from pan and set aside.
- Add the broccoli to the pan and just enough water to barely cover the bottom of the pan (a few tablespoons). Cover pan and let the broccoli steam until crisp tender and bright green, 3-4 minutes.
- Add the shrimp, white parts of the green onion and the orange sesame sauce back to the pan with the broccoli. Toss together over heat for 1-2 minutes. Remove from heat and serve garnished with the green parts of the green onions and sesame seeds if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
Tools I used for this recipe (affiliate links):
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Traci | Vanilla And Bean says
Ooooh, I love it when mom visits! But then to have a trip inside of a trip.. even better! My Ma comes up late Summer to escape the Texas heat. She usually spends several weeks here. We take a lot of day trips and sometimes head up to the San Juans. I look forward to it each year. I love the flavors you’ve assembled here, Meghan! I’m going to be so sad when oranges are out of season. That sauce, girrrrl!! Love!
Meghan says
Thank you Traci! So fun to take day trips, I love the San Juans!
Izzy @ She Likes Food says
What a fun trip!! I’m going back home in March for the first time in a very long time and I’m so excited! I’m already thinking about all the eating out we will be doing though, so I know how you feel when you get home and need something like this! I’m loving all the flavors in here!
Meghan says
Thanks so much Izzy! Hope you have a super fun trip and eat allll the things 😉
jane @ littlesugarsnaps says
That sauce, Meghan! I can tell it’s not going to be too sweet due to all of those additional ingredients. It sounds like the perfect blend and plentiful too. The photos are awesome BTW.
Meghan says
Thank you so much Jane! Yes, the sauce isn’t too sweet, just a tiny hint from the brown sugar 🙂
Christin@SpicySouthernKitchen says
Glad you had such a wonderful weekend! Mine went by so fast, I can hardly remember what I did. LOL!
This shrimp dish looks amazing! Love to cook shrimp for quick and easy meals!
Meghan says
Isn’t that always the truth with the weekends? They go by way too fast! Thanks Christin!
Ashlyn | Dollop of Yum says
This looks so delicious! I love how easy and simple this recipe is. I’m glad that you had so much fun back in your hometown! Happy Valentine’s Day!
Meghan says
Thank you so much Ashlyn! Happy Valentine’s day to you!
Anu - My Ginger Garlic Kitchen says
Glad to hear that you had an amazing time with your Mom and friends. And wow! Just look at the color!! Yummy citrus flavor and super delish looking bowl. So good.
Meghan says
Thank you so much Anu!
Melanie @ Melanie Cooks says
I never tried orange shrimp, but I love orange chicken, so I know this shrimp should be super yummy! That’s awesome how this recipe is so quick and easy to make, and it looks so beautiful and delicious!
Meghan says
Thank you Melanie! I love orange chicken too, and it goes really well with shrimp as well!
Adina says
Wonderful pictures, your dad is right! 🙂
Meghan says
🙂 Thank you so much Adina!
Jessica @ Sweetest Menu says
Oh my husband would LOVE this! He loves anything with shrimp. It looks so much better than takeout!
Meghan says
Thanks so much Jessica! I am a big fan of shrimp too, and it is nice to be able to make this kind of thing at home!
Summer says
Looks delightful and yummy ♥
summerdaisy.net
Meghan says
Summer – thank you so much!
Natasha @ Salt and Lavender says
Delicious. I too am a fan of keeping frozen shrimp on hand. This recipe looks great!
Meghan says
Thanks so much Natasha!
demeter | beaming baker says
Wow, your orange sesame shrimp looks AMAZING! The photos really seal the deal for me. 🙂 Happy to hear that you had a good time with your mom and friends! Time with family is so important and good for the soul.
Meghan says
Thank you so much Demeter! It is so good to be with friends and family.
My Dish is Bomb says
I do the same thing with shrimp — it’s so nice to have some in your freezer for quick and easy meals. Love the orange flavours too! Sounds like you had fun with your mom! I don’t really have a “hometown” b/c I moved alot as a kid but I love going back to visit places I used to live!
Meghan says
I really have two hometowns, since I grew up in Alaska and then I moved to Oregon as a teenager. But it is always fun to go back and see the places and people there.
Nicole @ Young, Broke and Hungry says
I actually went to college in Eugene, and am so jealous you got to go back for a weekend to eat, drink and have fun.
This orange shrimp dish looks packed with flavor! I’m gonna have to add it to my dinner menu this week.
Meghan says
Did you go to U of O? Me too! Go Ducks! Thanks Nicole!
Linda | The Baker Who Kerns says
Thats so nice you got to hang with your mama. My mom came two weeks ago and I like cancelled all my plans with everyone and had some serious mommy time haha! That orange shrimp looks delicious! I love healthier versions of dishes like this!
Meghan says
Yes, mom time is the best! Thanks Linda!
Kathy @ Beyond the Chicken Coop says
I need to add this to my list of “must makes” It sounds so amazing. I love meals that come together quickly, are tasty and healthy! I think you’ve landed on a winner!
Meghan says
Thanks so much Kathy! Yes easy and healthy is the holy grail of dinners, I think! 🙂
Lisa @ Chocolate Meets Strawberry says
Sounds like you had a fantastic weekend, Meghan. I love a quick weekend getaway, especially when old friends and plenty of good wine are involved! 😉 This shrimp (or as we say here, prawn) dish looks rocking! I haven’t ever eaten prawns at home but I really should if I want to continue to call myself a foodie, I think! The orange/sesame combo sounds just divine. As for me, I still live in my hometown (well, home city I guess, considering there are 2 million people living here in Brisbane!) and I love it. A lot of friends have moved down to Melbourne (because that’s where all the cool kids are at apparently), and a whole lot more moved to London. Here in Australia, Brisbane is kind of seen as a city for families and raising kids, so I guess that’s why a lot of young people move away. It’s seriously a phenomenon. There’s even a movie called “All My Friends Are Leaving Brisbane” (I kid you not!) which was terrible but gained a cult following because it’s just so true. We love it here, though, and I never want to leave!
Meghan says
That is so interesting about Brisbane, Lisa! I am trying to think of an equivalent here in the US, but it is usually young people moving from suburbs and small towns to larger cities. If you love your city and never want to leave then it is the right place for you! I don’t think that moving away is really necessary, unless of course you feel pulled in another direction. And yes, you must try making prawns at home! They are such a great fast and easy meal, I almost always have them on hand just for that reason.
Lynn Anderson says
Meghan, So happy to read that you and your mom were able to go to OR. and reconnect with old friends and be refreshed. As for my weekend, Saturday was a pedicure, eyebrow, and lip rip, car wash. Sunday was church, Salad Bowl ladies meeting and then Super Bowl with a couple of friends. We were all one day Bronco fans and pleased with their win.
I leave Saturday for a visit to my old hometown in Anchorage AK. Looking forward to seeing friends and doing a lot of chewing and chatting! I can say in advance that I won’t be disappointed.
Lynn
Meghan says
Aww, yay Lynn! That weekend sounds pretty steller, and I am so glad to hear you will be getting back to AK soon! I hope you have a fabulous trip!
Lynn | The Road to Honey says
Wow! It sounds like you had such a fantastic time with your mom and friends. It’s always nice to get a little dose of your hometown. Unfortunately, it’s not always easy to find the time to escape.
And this little shrimp dish. . .what a delicious way to re-charge and get back into the swing of things. I’ve been on the hunt for healthy, easy meals to prepare during the weekdays. This dish is perfect for that.
Meghan says
Thank you Lynn! It is hard to get back, this is the first time in a year for me! But was a fantastic time.
Stephanie | The Foodie and The Fix says
This looks and sounds fantastic! I’m completely with you on the frozen shrimp, I do the same thing! Quick, impromptu dinners don’t stand a chance 🙂 I’m planning a trip to my hometown coming up… trying to get one last trip in before me and the fam move to Alaska!
Meghan says
You are moving to Alaska?? Where? That is my ORIGINAL home, I lived there til I was a teenager. Thanks Stephanie!
Stephanie | The Foodie and The Fix says
Cool! I didn’t know that, Meghan! We’re moving to Seward 🙂
Meghan says
Awesome! I have only been there once but it is pretty. We will have to talk more about this!
Stephanie | The Foodie and The Fix says
Yes, absolutely!!
Ashley says
I love using orange in savory dishes! It is so so good! Sounds like you had a pretty awesome weekend!!
Meghan says
Yes, so good, right? Thank you Ashley!
Leslie @ flora foodie says
Sounds like a lovely weekend! This shrimp is GORG!
Meghan says
Thank you so much Leslie!
Lauren Gaskill | Making Life Sweet says
I’m so glad you are getting to spend so much time with you mama! Wine + this orange sesame shrimp + time with mom = my kind of day! Pinning!
Meghan says
Yaaaas, you and me both! Thank you Lauren, and thanks so much for pinning!
E.A. says
So delicious! visually & the taste buds agree!!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Meghan says
Thank you!
Dad says
Meghan
Has taken
Food as Art
Photography
To a professional level
Pops
Meghan says
🙂 I like the haiku 🙂
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary says
So glad you had an awesome weekend with your Mom and friends!! Woot woot to food, drinks and fun! Love this orange sesame shrimp, Meghan! This is a healthy done right–a dish I can easily devour!! Loving the flavors in here! Cheers, girlfriend! 😉
Meghan says
Thanks Cheyanne!