Greek Shrimp Saganaki with Tomato and Feta

Greek shrimp saganaki, also known as garides saganaki, is a classic Greek dish made with tender shrimp simmered in a rich tomato sauce with ouzo, herbs, warm spices, and crumbled feta. It is bold, saucy, slightly spicy, and perfect for serving as a meze with fresh bread or as a satisfying main course.

In Greek cooking, the word saganaki describes a variety of dishes traditionally prepared in a small two-handled frying pan called a sagani. Cheese saganaki is probably the most famous version, but shrimp saganaki is just as memorable. The combination of sweet shrimp, tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, ouzo, and feta creates a deeply flavoured dish that feels both rustic and impressive.

This Greek shrimp saganaki recipe is simple enough for a weeknight but special enough for entertaining. The sauce is the heart of the dish: onions, garlic, red pepper, tomatoes, oregano, paprika, chili flakes, tomato sauce, and tomato paste cook together until fragrant and full of Mediterranean flavour. The shrimp are added near the end so they stay tender, while feta softens over the top and adds a salty, creamy finish.

Why I love this recipe

It is full of flavour. This shrimp saganaki gets its depth from a generous blend of simple ingredients. Olive oil, garlic, tomato, ouzo, oregano, paprika, and feta work beautifully together without making the recipe complicated.

It is versatile. Serve it as part of a Greek meze spread, spoon it over rice, or enjoy it as a main dish with plenty of bread to soak up the sauce.

It looks impressive. Shrimp saganaki has a beautiful colour and a restaurant-style presentation, yet it comes together easily in one skillet.

Key ingredients

This version of shrimp saganaki uses a few more ingredients than some recipes, but each one adds something important to the final dish. The result is a rich, balanced, and aromatic Greek shrimp recipe.

Shrimp: Use uncooked shrimp that have been peeled and deveined. A 16 to 20 count shrimp works well because it is a good medium size for this dish.

Olive oil: Greek olive oil is ideal for authentic Mediterranean flavour.

Onion: Yellow onion cooks down beautifully and creates a sweet, savoury base for the sauce.

Garlic: Fresh garlic adds essential flavour and aroma.

Red pepper: Red bell pepper brings sweetness, colour, and texture.

Grape or cherry tomatoes: Small tomatoes soften in the skillet and add freshness to the sauce.

Chili flakes: A little heat is traditional in shrimp saganaki. Adjust the amount to your taste.

Paprika: Paprika adds colour and a gentle depth of flavour.

Oregano: Dry Greek oregano gives the sauce its classic aroma.

Tomato sauce and tomato paste: These create a rich, concentrated tomato base.

Ouzo: This anise-flavoured Greek liqueur adds a distinctive flavour that pairs beautifully with shrimp and tomato.

Feta: Greek feta is crumbled over the top. It softens as the dish finishes cooking and adds a salty, creamy element.

Parsley: Fresh flat-leaf parsley brightens the finished dish.

How to make

Step 1
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the diced onion and sauté for about 5 minutes, until soft and translucent.

Step 2
Add the minced garlic, red pepper strips, grape or cherry tomatoes, chili flakes, oregano, and paprika. Cook for another 5 minutes, stirring often, until the vegetables begin to soften and the mixture becomes fragrant.

Step 3
Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the tomato sauce, salt, and pepper, then cook for another 2 to 3 minutes. Add the shrimp and ouzo, stir well, cover the skillet, and cook over medium-low heat for about 5 minutes.

Step 4
Uncover the skillet and sprinkle the crumbled feta over the shrimp and tomato sauce. Cover again and cook for another 3 to 5 minutes over medium-low heat. The feta will soften, although it will not fully melt.

Step 5
Remove the skillet from the heat and sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley. Let the shrimp saganaki rest briefly so the flavours can come together, then serve warm with fresh bread.

Recipe substitutions

Grape tomatoes and cherry tomatoes can be used interchangeably in this recipe. If you only have regular tomatoes, cut them into small bite-sized pieces before adding them to the skillet.

If you prefer not to cook with ouzo, you can use white wine or vodka instead. For an alcohol-free shrimp saganaki, simply omit the ouzo.

Feta is the classic choice, but another firm Greek cheese can be used if preferred. Halloumi, kefalotyri, or kefalograviera are possible alternatives.

Recipe variations

To make shrimp saganaki more substantial, serve it over cooked rice. The rice absorbs the tomato sauce and turns the dish into an easy, complete meal.

Cooking tips and helpful hints

You do not need a special saganaki pan to make this recipe. A large frying pan or skillet is all you need, as long as it is wide enough to hold the sauce and shrimp comfortably.

Shrimp saganaki is usually a lightly spicy dish, but the heat should not overpower the delicate shrimp, ouzo, tomatoes, and feta. Start with the suggested amount of chili flakes and adjust according to your preference.

If you are using frozen shrimp, defrost them safely. Place them in the refrigerator overnight, set them in a bowl of cold water, or run cold water over them for several minutes. Do not use warm or hot water, as it can partially cook the surface of the shrimp and affect the texture.

Peeling the shrimp completely makes the finished dish easier to eat. Leaving the tail on can add some flavour, but this recipe already has plenty of richness from the tomato sauce, olive oil, spices, ouzo, and feta.

How to serve

Shrimp saganaki is delicious as a main meal, but it is also perfect as part of a Greek meze table. Serve it with fresh bread, tzatziki, fava, eggplant dip, marinated olives, cooked greens, or other Mediterranean-style small plates.

The sauce is one of the best parts of this dish, so bread is essential. Use it to scoop up the rich tomato sauce, softened feta, and juices from the shrimp.

Related recipes

If you enjoy this Greek shrimp recipe, you may also like shrimp and rice, orzo with shrimp, and chili lime shrimp lettuce wraps.

Video: Shrimp saganaki