**Orzo with Roasted Red Peppers and Asparagus: A Delightful Medley of Flavors**
If you're seeking a vibrant and flavorful side dish or a light vegetarian main course, look no further than orzo with roasted red peppers and asparagus. This delectable dish combines the nutty flavor of orzo pasta with the sweetness of roasted red peppers and the crisp tenderness of asparagus. It's a symphony of flavors that will tantalize your taste buds and leave you craving more.
The versatility of this dish is another reason to love it. It can be served warm as a hearty side dish alongside grilled meats or fish, or chilled as a refreshing salad for a summer gathering. Additionally, the recipe includes variations to suit your dietary preferences and allergies, including a vegan option for those following a plant-based lifestyle. Whether you're a seasoned home cook or just starting your culinary journey, this orzo with roasted red peppers and asparagus recipe is sure to impress. So, gather your ingredients, preheat your oven, and embark on a culinary adventure that will leave you savoring every bite.
ORZO WITH ROASTED RED PEPPERS & ASPARAGUS
Quick vegan dish I threw together last night... I love orzo pasta simply prepared with margarine, salt and pepper. Since I didn't want to eat just that for dinner, I decided to add some veggies that I had on hand as well. I used a 12 oz bag of frozen asparagus from Trader Joes, thawed for 5-6 minutes in the microwave, and then chopped into 1" pieces. Trader Joe's frozen asparagus tends to become very mushy, VERY fast, so keep an eye on it in the microwave, and add it to your skillet at the last minute. Spices were kind of a mix and match. I use a mix called Sandwich Sprinkle from Penzey's Spice Company, as well as basil and thyme.
Provided by Kozmic Blues
Categories Vegetable
Time 18m
Yield 6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Cook orzo according to package directions.
- Heat skillet over medium heat.
- Spray with non stick cooking spray.
- Add Earth Balance margarine and garlic and cook until fragrant.
- Add chopped roasted red peppers and spices to taste.
- Reduce heat to low, add chopped asparagus and stir to coat.
- Drain orzo, reserving about 1 cup of the pasta cooking liquid.
- Add orzo to skillet, and gently mix, adding pasta water as needed.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 168.6, Fat 6.2, SaturatedFat 1.1, Sodium 76, Carbohydrate 23.6, Fiber 2.1, Sugar 1.2, Protein 5.2
ORZO SALAD WITH PEPPERS AND FETA
Piperade, a classic Basque dish of stewed peppers, onions and tomatoes, becomes a flavorful sauce for this pasta. Colorful bell peppers simmer in olive oil and aromatics until meltingly soft, and juicy tomatoes simmer alongside until they burst, lending both tangy and sweet notes. Briny feta adds salty bites to complement the sweet pepper sauce, but tart aged goat cheese makes a good alternative. This side is even better at room temperature, making it the perfect make-ahead dish for summer picnics or potlucks.
Provided by Kay Chun
Categories dinner, easy, lunch, pastas, salads and dressings, main course, side dish
Time 30m
Yield 4 to 6 servings (about 10 cups)
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Cook orzo in a large pot of salted boiling water according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1/4 cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta, pressing out excess liquid. Spread out on a baking sheet to cool.
- Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat oil over medium. Add onion, bell peppers and thyme, and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 10 minutes. Stir in garlic until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add tomato and cook, stirring occasionally, until broken down and juices release, about 8 minutes.
- Add the reserved pasta water and stir to scrape up any browned bits at the bottom of the skillet. Transfer vegetable mixture to a large bowl to cool slightly to lukewarm, about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally to speed up the cooling process. Discard thyme sprig.
- Add cooled orzo, lemon juice, basil and cheese. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Mix well, then transfer to a large serving bowl or platter. Garnish with more basil.
BAKED ORZO WITH TOMATOES, ROASTED PEPPERS AND ZUCCHINI
Orzo is a type of pasta that looks like rice. It's popular in Greece, where it is baked in casseroles like this one. If you like comforting dishes like macaroni and cheese, you'll like this.
Provided by Martha Rose Shulman
Categories dinner, pastas, main course, side dish
Time 1h
Yield Serves six
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil, and add the orzo. Cook eight minutes, or until it is cooked through but still firm to the bite. Drain and transfer to a large bowl. Toss with the diced roasted pepper and 1 tablespoon of the olive oil.
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Oil a 2-quart baking dish. Heat another tablespoon of olive oil over medium-high heat in a large, wide skillet. Add the zucchini and cook - stirring and turning over the slices, or tossing them in the pan - until just cooked through and lightly colored, about five minutes. Scrape into the bowl with the orzo.
- Return the pan to the heat, add the final tablespoon of oil and the garlic. Cook just until fragrant, 20 to 30 seconds, and add the tomatoes and salt to taste. Cook, stirring from time to time, until the tomatoes have cooked down slightly and smell fragrant. Taste and adjust seasoning. Scrape into the bowl with the orzo, add the Parmesan or goat cheese, and mix everything together. Add freshly ground pepper to taste, and adjust salt. Transfer to the baking dish.
- Bake 30 to 40 minutes, until the top is just beginning to color. Serve hot or warm.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 192, UnsaturatedFat 6 grams, Carbohydrate 22 grams, Fat 10 grams, Fiber 3 grams, Protein 6 grams, SaturatedFat 2 grams, Sodium 478 milligrams, Sugar 5 grams
ROASTED VEGETABLE ORZO
This is a recipe I made up with all of the wonderful summer vegetables in season. Serve it with chicken or all on its own!
Provided by Michelle
Categories Side Dish Vegetables Squash Zucchini
Time 45m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
- Place the zucchini, squash, onion, asparagus, and mushrooms in a large bowl; add in garlic, olive oil and sugar, and stir gently to coat vegetables. Spread vegetables in a single layer on a baking sheet, and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
- Roast vegetables until tender, 20 to 25 minutes.
- Meanwhile, bring a large pot of lightly salted water to boil. Add bouillon cubes, wine, and orzo, and cook until al dente, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain. Stir in roasted vegetables and Parmesan cheese, and serve warm.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 621 calories, Carbohydrate 104.5 g, Cholesterol 2.9 mg, Fat 11.4 g, Fiber 10.5 g, Protein 24.9 g, SaturatedFat 2.2 g, Sodium 1041.6 mg, Sugar 9.8 g
ORZO WITH ROASTED VEGETABLES
This recipe is a slight variation of a wonderful summer dish invented by Sarah Leah Chase in her book The Open House Cookbook.
Provided by Ina Garten
Categories side-dish
Time 1h
Yield 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 17
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.
ROASTED VEGGIE ORZO
"My sister inspired this recipe. I added a few more spices, but the concept is hers. It's easy to vary, is a great way to add veggies to your diet and the olive oil is heart healthy."Jackie Termont - Richmond, Virginia
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Side Dishes
Time 45m
Yield 8 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Place vegetables in a 15x10x1-in. baking pan coated with cooking spray. Drizzle with oil and sprinkle with seasonings; toss to coat. Bake at 400° until tender, 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally., Meanwhile, cook orzo according to package directions. Drain; transfer to a serving bowl. Stir in roasted vegetables. Sprinkle with cheese.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 164 calories, Fat 3g fat (1g saturated fat), Cholesterol 2mg cholesterol, Sodium 188mg sodium, Carbohydrate 28g carbohydrate (3g sugars, Fiber 3g fiber), Protein 6g protein. Diabetic Exchanges
LEMONY ORZO WITH ASPARAGUS AND GARLIC BREAD CRUMBS
Every spoonful of this pasta has a happy jumble of lemony orzo, grassy asparagus, garlicky bread crumbs, fresh herbs and salty Parmesan. The pasta and thinly sliced asparagus cook together in the same pot, then rest in a lemony dressing while the garlic bread crumbs are toasted, so the pasta has time to absorb as much flavor as possible.
Provided by Ali Slagle
Categories brunch, dinner, lunch, weekday, pastas, main course
Time 20m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil. Add the orzo and cook until al dente according to package directions. Two minutes before the orzo is done, add the asparagus. Drain the orzo and asparagus. Wipe out and reserve the pot.
- While the orzo and asparagus cook, make the dressing: In a large bowl, stir together 3 tablespoons oil and the lemon zest and juice; season to taste with salt and pepper. Add the drained orzo and asparagus and toss to coat. Set aside while you toast the bread crumbs.
- In the reserved pot, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons oil over medium. Add the panko and cook, stirring, until golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat, then stir in the garlic and season with salt and pepper.
- Stir the Parmesan and herbs into the orzo, taste, then season with salt, pepper and additional lemon juice, if desired. Top with the toasted bread crumbs and more Parmesan if you like. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Tips:
- Prepare vegetables properly: Before roasting red peppers and asparagus, ensure they are evenly cut for uniform cooking. Use a sharp knife to achieve precise and consistent cuts.
- Roast vegetables at high heat: High heat caramelizes the vegetables, bringing out their natural sweetness and enhancing their flavor. Roast red peppers and asparagus at 425°F (220°C) for optimal results.
- Use fresh herbs: Fresh herbs like basil and parsley add a burst of flavor and vibrancy to the dish. Chop them finely just before adding them to preserve their delicate aromas.
- Season orzo pasta well: To ensure the pasta is flavorful, season the cooking water generously with salt. This simple step enhances the taste of the pasta and prevents it from being bland.
- Reserve pasta cooking liquid: Don't discard the pasta cooking liquid! Reserve about 1 cup of it before draining the orzo. This liquid contains starch that helps create a creamy and flavorful sauce when added to the skillet.
- Use a large skillet: To prevent overcrowding and ensure even cooking, use a large skillet that can accommodate all the ingredients comfortably. This will prevent steaming and promote even browning.
- Grate Parmesan cheese finely: Finely grated Parmesan cheese melts more easily and evenly, distributing its rich flavor throughout the dish. Use a microplane grater for the best results.
Conclusion:
Orzo with Roasted Red Peppers and Asparagus is a delightful dish that combines vibrant flavors and textures. The roasted vegetables add a touch of sweetness, while the creamy sauce and Parmesan cheese provide a rich and satisfying finish. This versatile dish can be served as a main course or a side dish and is perfect for a weeknight meal or a special occasion. Whether you're a seasoned cook or a beginner, this recipe is easy to follow and will surely impress your taste buds.
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