5:30 Challenge: Use fiery tomato sauce, feta cheese to dress up shrimp

Frozen shrimp are a weeknight lifesaver for any seafood lover. A large bag will keep for months in the freezer, and the shrimp themselves defrost in minutes under cool running water. Cook them a few minutes on the stove, and you’ve got a healthy protein ready to go.

The only problem? Most bags of frozen shrimp available to the average grocery shopper aren’t particularly flavorful. They’re simply not going to pack that sweetness and subtle brininess of fresh Georgia whites or the meaty earthiness of shrimp from the Gulf. But no matter — take advantage of the mild flavor of the everyday frozen specimens and cook them in a fiery tomato sauce.

This recipe, for so-called “Greek-style” shrimp is inspired by a similar recipe from America’s Test Kitchen, albeit trimmed down and streamlined for an even faster meal. Instead of rolling out an array of spices and seasonings, make use of pre-seasoned canned diced tomatoes. Those that include basil, garlic and oregano are particularly good here, but any can that also includes garlic will work just fine. Employ your favorite extra-virgin olive oil to do triple duty — flavoring the shrimp, sauteing a red bell pepper and drizzling for garnish. Use a heavy hand with red pepper flakes, if you’re not serving small children, for a backbone of heat. And finally, top the whole thing with a generous layer of the best feta cheese you can get your hands on.