Best 5 Genoa Orzo With Pesto Recipes

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# **Genoa Orzo with Pesto: A Culinary Symphony of Italian Flavors**

Embark on a culinary journey through the vibrant streets of Italy with our Genoa Orzo with Pesto recipe. This delectable dish blends the rustic charm of Genoa with the vibrant flavors of fresh pesto, creating a symphony of tastes that will transport your senses to the heart of Liguria. Discover the art of crafting homemade pesto using aromatic basil, nutty pine nuts, and pungent Parmesan cheese, capturing the essence of this traditional Italian sauce. Alongside the main recipe, we present enticing variations, including a zesty Lemon Pesto Orzo and a savory Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto Orzo, each offering unique flavor profiles that cater to diverse palates. Prepare to indulge in a symphony of flavors that will leave you craving for more. So, gather your ingredients, don your apron, and let's embark on this culinary adventure together!

Here are our top 5 tried and tested recipes!

ORZO WITH PEAS AND PARSLEY PESTO



Orzo With Peas and Parsley Pesto image

This is like a pasta version of the classic rice and peas risotto, risi e bisi. It's a beautiful springtime dish. You can make a whole batch of pesto so that you have it on hand for other uses (like sandwiches), but for this dish you'll need only a half batch.

Provided by Martha Rose Shulman

Categories     dinner, weekday, pastas, main course

Time 30m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 9

2 garlic cloves, halved, green shoots removed
2 cups tightly packed flat-leaf parsley leaves
Salt to taste
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
6 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan
Freshly ground pepper
10 ounces (1 1/3 cups) orzo
1 1/2 cups fresh peas (about 1 3/4 pound in the shell)
Additional grated Parmesan or Pecorino for serving (optional)

Steps:

  • Make the pesto. Turn on a food processor fitted with the steel blade and drop in the garlic. When it is chopped and adhering to the sides of the bowl, stop the machine and scrape down the bowl. Alternatively, mash with a generous pinch of salt in a mortar and pestle. Add the parsley to the food processor (or to the mortar and pestle) and process until finely chopped (or grind to a paste in the mortar and pestle). With the machine running, add the olive oil in a slow stream and process until the mixture is smooth (or slowly work into the mixture using the mortar and pestle). Stop the machine, scrape down the sides of the bowl and add the cheese. Pulse to combine. Measure out 1/3 cup and refrigerate the rest in a covered container.
  • Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil and add the orzo. Cook 5 minutes. Add the peas and continue to cook for another 4 minutes, until the orzo is cooked through but al dente. Add a ladleful of the cooking water to the pesto, then drain the orzo and peas and toss with the pesto. Serve, passing more Parmesan or Pecorino in a bowl.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 564, UnsaturatedFat 18 grams, Carbohydrate 64 grams, Fat 25 grams, Fiber 6 grams, Protein 21 grams, SaturatedFat 6 grams, Sodium 457 milligrams, Sugar 5 grams

PESTO ORZO WITH ROASTED ZUCCHINI



Pesto Orzo with Roasted Zucchini image

I made up this recipe after finding out the health benefits of orzo. This is really tasty and light at the same time, a great dinner dish that will leave you asking for more--thankfully, it tastes even better for lunch the next day!

Provided by Maristela

Categories     Main Dish Recipes     Pasta     Pesto Pasta Recipes

Time 45m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 10

2 medium zucchini, cut into 1-inch slices
5 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1 pinch garlic powder, or to taste
salt and ground black pepper to taste
1 cup uncooked orzo pasta
1 cube vegetable bouillon
1 large Spanish onion, chopped
½ cup pesto sauce
8 cherry tomatoes, halved, or more to taste
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
  • Place zucchini in a bowl and season with 2 tablespoons oil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Mix until all slices are moistened. Spread on a large baking sheet.
  • Roast zucchini in the preheated oven for 10 minutes. Flip the slices and continue roasting until tender and browned, about 10 minutes more.
  • Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add orzo and vegetable bouillon; cook until orzo is tender yet firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Drain and set aside.
  • Heat remaining olive oil in a large frying pan and cook onion until starting to brown, about 5 minutes. Stir in pesto sauce. Cut zucchini rounds into 4 pieces and add to the frying pan. Add cooked orzo, stirring until it absorbs the pesto sauce. Add cherry tomatoes last; stir for about 30 seconds. Garnish with Parmesan cheese.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 535.6 calories, Carbohydrate 47.9 g, Cholesterol 12.2 mg, Fat 32.8 g, Fiber 4.6 g, Protein 15.3 g, SaturatedFat 6.9 g, Sodium 334.6 mg, Sugar 5.6 g

SIMPLE BASIL PESTO ORZO RECIPE



Simple Basil Pesto Orzo Recipe image

A creamy and delightful vegetable and pasta side dish recipe that only takes 15 minutes to prepare and 7 ingredients. Orzo cooks in vegetable broth with peas and spinach creating a creamy and delicious lightly sauced dish.

Provided by Lyn Croyle

Categories     Side Dish

Time 15m

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 ½ cups orzo
½ cup peas
2 cup spinach (chopped)
2 ½ cups vegetable stock (water)
¼ cup pesto sauce
salt and pepper to taste
1 tomato (diced small for garnish)
fresh basil (optional)

Steps:

  • Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium high heat. When oil is hot, add the orzo. Stir to coat the orzo with the oil. Continue cooking for about four minutes to toast the orzo. Stir frequently.
  • Add peas, spinach and vegetable stock or water to the pan. Bring to a boil, cover with lid and reduce heat to simmer for 8-10 minutes or until the orzo is tender and water is absorbed. Add more water if necessary to cook the orzo.
  • Stir in the pesto sauce and mix well. Taste and add salt and pepper as desired.
  • Serve up topped with diced tomatoes and basil leaves

Nutrition Facts : Calories 220 kcal, Carbohydrate 33 g, Protein 7 g, Fat 7 g, SaturatedFat 1 g, Cholesterol 1 mg, Sodium 500 mg, Fiber 2 g, Sugar 3 g, ServingSize 1 serving

SHRIMP ORZO PESTO



Shrimp Orzo Pesto image

This is one of my finest creations, made much easier by the frozen pre-cooked shrimp!

Provided by M. Kertello

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     European     Italian

Time 25m

Yield 3

Number Of Ingredients 12

8 ounces orzo pasta
1 tablespoon pesto, divided
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
2 cups frozen cooked shrimp, thawed
½ cup diced red bell pepper
1 teaspoon capers
¼ teaspoon dried oregano
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
salt and ground black pepper to taste
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon olive oil, or to taste

Steps:

  • Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook orzo in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until cooked through but firm to the bite, about 11 minutes. Drain and transfer to a bowl; mix 2 teaspoons pesto and 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil into orzo.
  • Heat remaining 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil in a skillet; cook and stir shrimp, red bell pepper, and capers in hot oil until shrimp is heated through, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir remaining 1 teaspoon pesto, oregano, garlic powder, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper into shrimp mixture; cook and stir until combined, 1 to 2 minutes.
  • Mix orzo into shrimp mixture; sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and drizzle with olive oil.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 585.2 calories, Carbohydrate 58.9 g, Cholesterol 173.9 mg, Fat 24.4 g, Fiber 3.2 g, Protein 32 g, SaturatedFat 4.9 g, Sodium 366 mg, Sugar 4.3 g

ORZO WITH SUMMER SQUASH AND PESTO



Orzo with Summer Squash and Pesto image

There's still plenty of summer squash in the market. I like to dice it small for this dish, cook it with a little garlic and marjoram or mint and toss it with orzo, a pasta that looks like rice but tastes and feels like pasta. I love the textures of the two, and the pesto completes the dish. Make sure to dice the squash small so the pieces aren't much bigger than the grains of orzo.

Provided by Martha Rose Shulman

Categories     dinner, main course

Time 30m

Yield Serves 4 to 5

Number Of Ingredients 8

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 garlic clove, minced
1 1/2 pounds zucchini or other summer squash, cut in 1/4-inch dice (about 4 cups)
2 teaspoons chopped fresh marjoram or mint
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
10 ounces (1 1/3 cups) orzo
1/3 cup basil or basil-mint pesto (1/2 batch)
Additional grated Parmesan or pecorino for serving

Steps:

  • Bring a large pot of water to a boil for the orzo and salt generously. Meanwhile, heat a large, heavy skillet over medium heat and add olive oil and garlic. Cook, stirring, until garlic is fragrant, about 30 seconds, and add summer squash. Turn heat up to medium high and cook, stirring often, until squash is tender and translucent, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in marjoram or mint and season to taste with salt and pepper. Turn off heat.
  • When water in pot comes to a boil, salt generously and add orzo. Cook 9 minutes, until al dente. Stir 3 to 4 tablespoons of the cooking water into the pesto, then drain orzo and toss with squash. Heat through, add pesto, toss again and serve, passing more Parmesan or pecorino in a bowl.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 319, UnsaturatedFat 3 grams, Carbohydrate 49 grams, Fat 10 grams, Fiber 4 grams, Protein 10 grams, SaturatedFat 1 gram, Sodium 500 milligrams, Sugar 5 grams

Tips:

  • Use high-quality ingredients for the best flavor. Fresh basil, good olive oil, and flavorful cheese are essential.
  • Don't overcook the orzo. It should be al dente, with a slight bite to it.
  • If you don't have any pesto on hand, you can make your own by blending together fresh basil, olive oil, Parmesan cheese, pine nuts, garlic, and salt.
  • Feel free to add other vegetables to the dish, such as chopped zucchini, broccoli, or asparagus.
  • Serve the dish immediately, garnished with fresh basil and grated Parmesan cheese.

Conclusion:

Genoa orzo with pesto is a quick and easy pasta dish that's perfect for a weeknight meal. It's packed with flavor and can be easily tailored to your own taste. Whether you like it simple or loaded with vegetables, this dish is sure to please everyone at the table.

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