Shrimp Power Bowls
Neena BrostowskiFresh, Protein-Packed Bowls with Bold Flavour and Crunch
If you’ve been craving an easy, nourishing bowl with big flavours and simple ingredients, these Shrimp Power Bowls are it. They’re layered with juicy marinated shrimp, hearty ancient grains (or whatever grains you have on hand!), edamame, fresh veggies, and a drizzle of Japanese BBQ sauce for that extra punch of umami. Perfect for a quick dinner or easy meal prep that feels anything but boring.
Ingredients (Serves 2–3)
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Marinated Shrimp Skewers (I used the masala marinated shrimp skewers from Walmart — but use whatever you love!)
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1 cup ancient grains mix (rice, barley, wheat, red rice, oats, bulgur wheat, quinoa — or any grains of choice!)
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2 cups water or broth (for cooking grains)
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1 cup peeled edamame (not in pods)
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½ cup diced cucumber
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Handful of microgreens
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Japanese BBQ sauce (I get mine at Costco)
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2–3 green onions, sliced
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Sesame seeds, for topping
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Unsalted peanuts, for crunch
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Sea salt, to taste
Instructions
1. Cook the Shrimp
I cooked mine on a cast-iron griddle on my barbecue for that smoky touch, but you can easily cook the shrimp in the oven, on the stovetop in a pan, or in your air fryer if you don’t have a BBQ handy.
Shrimp tip: Remember the C’s & O’s trick — perfectly cooked shrimp curl into a ‘C’, while overcooked shrimp tighten into an ‘O’ shape. Keep an eye out and pull them off the heat once they’re pink, opaque, and curled like a nice ‘C’.
Remove from heat and carefully slide the shrimp off the skewers.
2. Cook the Grains
In a saucepan, combine 1 cup of grains and 2 cups water or broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 10 minutes.
Remove from heat and let stand, covered, for 5 minutes. For softer grains, cook an extra 2–3 minutes.
Drain any excess water, fluff with a fork, and season to taste.
Tip: You can easily swap the ancient grains mix for any cooked grains you have on hand — rice, quinoa, barley, or farro all work beautifully.
3. Cook the Edamame
Add 1 cup peeled edamame (out of pods) to a microwave-safe bowl. Cover with water and microwave for 7 minutes.
Strain and season with sea salt.
4. Assemble the Bowls
In a serving bowl, layer:
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½ cup cooked grains
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Portion of cooked edamame
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Diced cucumber
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Microgreens
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Shrimp (removed from skewers)
Drizzle with Japanese BBQ sauce, then top with sliced green onions, sesame seeds, and unsalted peanuts for that perfect crunch.
Why You’ll Love It
- Quick & easy with store-bought shortcuts (hello, marinated shrimp skewers!).
- Balanced protein, fibre, and healthy fats.
- Flexible — swap grains for whatever you have on hand.
- Meal-prep friendly — store the components separately and assemble when you’re ready to eat.
- Versatile — cook your shrimp on the BBQ, in the oven, on the stove, or in the air fryer!
- C’s & O’s trick: Perfectly cooked shrimp, every time.
Tip: Feel free to switch up the toppings — radishes, shredded carrots, or avocado would all be so good here too.
With love from my kitchen to yours,
—Neena