Toasted Orzo Pasta Recipes

TOASTED ORZO WITH OLIVES AND LEMON

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add orzo; cook, stirring, until golden, 5 to 7 minutes. Add 4 cups water and lemon zest, and season with salt and pepper; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium; cover, and simmer until orzo is al dente and liquid is absorbed, 10 to 15 minutes (if orzo is cooked but liquid remains, cook uncovered to evaporate).
• Remove from heat. Stir in olives, parsley, remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil, and lemon juice.

TOASTED ORZO PILAF

Steps:

• Melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in medium saucepan.
• Add orzo and stir until pasta is toasted, about 3-5 minutes.
• Add broth, bring to a boil and cook pasta until done; drain.
• Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter in a sauté pan.
• Add scallions and mushrooms and cook until crisp-tender.
• Add pine nuts, salt and pepper to taste.
• Stir in the cooked orzo and fresh parsley, and heat through.

TOASTED ORZO SALAD

Steps:

• 1. Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the orzo and cook, stirring, until golden, about 3 minutes. Add 3 cups water, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and the lemon zest and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium, cover and cook, stirring occasionally, 10 minutes. Uncover and continue cooking, stirring frequently, until the orzo is tender and the liquid is absorbed, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the heat.
• 2. Transfer the orzo to a large mixing bowl, remove the lemon zest and let cool about 10 minutes. Stir in the remaining 2 tablespoons oil, tomatoes, if using, feta cheese, parsley, capers, dill and lemon juice. Season with additional salt and pepper. Serve warm or at room temperature.

ORZO WITH ROASTED VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Toss the eggplant, bell peppers, onion, and garlic with the olive oil, salt, and pepper on a large sheet pan. Roast for 40 minutes, until browned, turning once with a spatula.
• Meanwhile, cook the orzo in boiling salted water for 7 to 9 minutes, until tender. Drain and transfer to a large serving bowl. Add the roasted vegetables to the pasta, scraping all the liquid and seasonings from the roasting pan into the pasta bowl.
• For the dressing, combine the lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper and pour on the pasta and vegetables. Let cool to room temperature, then add the scallions, pignolis, feta, and basil. Check the seasonings, and serve at room temperature.

CREAMY ROASTED GARLIC & SPINACH ORZO

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°. Remove papery outer skin from garlic bulb but do not peel or separate the cloves. Cut off top of garlic bulb, exposing individual cloves. Drizzle cut cloves with 1 teaspoon oil. Wrap in foil. Bake 30-35 minutes or until cloves are soft. Unwrap. When cool enough to handle, squeeze garlic from skins., In a Dutch oven, heat remaining oil over medium-high heat. Add pasta; cook and stir 2-3 minutes or until lightly browned. Add stock; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, 10-12 minutes or until pasta is tender and liquid is absorbed., Stir in cream cheese until melted. Add spinach, Asiago cheese, milk, seasoning blend, salt and roasted garlic; cook and stir until spinach is wilted. Sprinkle with parsley.

TOASTED ORZO WITH PEAS, ONION AND BACON

Steps:

• Heat large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add orzo and stir until beginning to color, about 10 minutes. Transfer orzo to small bowl. Add onion and bacon to same skillet. Sauté until bacon browns and onion is tender, about 15 minutes. Add 3 1/4 cups broth and orzo and bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover and simmer until broth is absorbed and orzo is tender, about 18 minutes. Mix in peas. Add more broth if mixture is dry. Cover and cook until peas are just warmed through, about 2 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve.

TOASTED ORZO WITH PEAS AND PARMESAN

Steps:

• Heat butter in 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat; add onion and salt and cook, stirring frequently, until onion has softened and is beginning to brown, about 5 minutes.
• Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
• Add orzo and cook, stirring frequently, until most of orzo is lightly browned and golden, 5 to 6 minutes.
• Turn off heat and add vermouth and chicken broth.
• Go back to medium-high heat and bring to boil; reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until all liquid has been absorbed and orzo is tender, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Gently stir in peas, cheese, nutmeg, and pepper to taste.
• Remove from heat and let it stand until peas are heated through, about 2 minutes.

TOASTED ORZO WITH SAFFRON AND FENNEL

Steps:

• Soften saffron in 1 tablespoon hot water and set aside.
• Cook onion in oil in a 3-quart heavy saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 6 minutes. Add orzo and toast, stirring frequently, until fragrant, 2 to 4 minutes.
• Stir in saffron mixture, remaining 2 cups water, and 1 teaspoon salt and simmer, covered, until orzo is just tender and liquid is absorbed, about 12 minutes.
• Sprinkle fennel bulb over orzo and let stand, covered, off heat 5 minutes. Stir fennel bulb into orzo, then serve sprinkled with fennel fronds.