Asparagus And Orzo Pasta Food

ASPARAGUS & MEATBALL ORZO

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Put the meatballs on a tray lined with foil, season and cook for 20 mins until cooked through. Meanwhile, bring a pan of salted water to the boil, add the orzo and cook for 4 mins, then add the asparagus and simmer for 4 mins more. Drain, then tip back into the pan along with the meatballs and crème fraîche, mix and season well.

LEMONY ORZO WITH ASPARAGUS AND GARLIC BREAD CRUMBS

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.

ASPARAGUS AND ORZO PASTA WITH BROILED SALMON

Steps:

• Preheat the broiler.
• Bring a small pot of water (with a lid) to a boil (about 5 minutes).
• Add asparagus and orzo to the pot.
• After 3 minutes, remove only the asparagus and continue cooking orzo according to package instructions (usually about 6 minutes).
• While orzo cooks, season 5 oz. salmon filet with salt and pepper and broil for 5 minutes, or until opaque throughout.
• Meanwhile, whisk together feta, dill, lemon juice, olive oil, and pepper to taste.
• Flake the fish and toss together all ingredients.

ORZO WITH ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Heat olive oil and butter over medium heat.
• Add onion, fennel, garlic and saute until very soft.
• Add orzo and 1/2 cup chicken stock.
• Stir as you would risotto until liquid is absorbed.
• You might not use the whole quart of broth.
• Repeat until pasta is almost al dente.
• Add asparagus and simmer until tender.
• Top with parmesan, pepper flake and thyme.

ORZO WITH ASPARAGUS, ARTICHOKE, TOMATO AND TRUFFLE OIL

Steps:

• Cook the orzo in boiling salted water until al dente. Rinse in cool water and toss in olive oil. Set aside.
• In a small sauce pan, cook balsamic vinegar and sugar and reduce it to a syrup consistency. Set aside. Cut the asparagus tips from the stems. Blanch the tips on boiling salted water. Set aside. Coarsely chop the asparagus stems in a food processor. Set aside. Put the artichokes on a hot grill and cook until brown. Saute butter, garlic, and asparagus in a large pan for 2 minutes. Add wine, vegetable stock, and orzo.
• Cook until the pasta is hot and the liquid has been absorbed. Saute asparagus tips with butter and salt until hot Toss pasta with tomatoes and Parmesan, arrange asparagus on top of each pasta portion. Season with salt and pepper. Spoon pasta into 6 portions. Drizzle plates with balsamic and truffle oils. Place grilled artichoke next to each portion.

ZUCCHINI AND GROUND BEEF SKILLET

Steps:

• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir ground beef and onion in the hot skillet until beef is browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes. Drain and discard grease.
• Stir mushrooms, tomato sauce, olives, and garlic into the skillet. Crush stewed tomatoes into smaller pieces and add to the mixture. Season with salt and white pepper. Let simmer, uncovered, until liquid reduces, 20 to 30 minutes.
• Slice zucchini lengthwise; cut into 1/2-inch slices and add to the skillet. Cook, covered, until firm yet tender to the bite, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in Cheddar cheese and cook, covered, until melted, 3 to 4 minutes. Serve.

ASPARAGUS, SUNDRIED TOMATO, AND ORZO SALAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 430 f. Wash asparagus, trim off woody ends, and then cut asparagus spears into 1 inch pieces. Combine in a baking dish with olive oil, garlic, and salt. Roast asparagus in oven for ~15 minutes, until just fork tender. Let cool slightly.
• Cook orzo in salted water, according to package directions.
• Cut tomatoes into small pieces or slices.
• Combine all ingredients and mix well.

LEMON ORZO SALAD WITH ASPARAGUS AND TOMATOES

Steps:

• Bring 2 large pots of water to boil. Add a big pinch of salt in each.
• To one pot, add asparagus and blanch, about 2 to 3 minutes, depending on the thickness of your asparagus. Place blanched asparagus in a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking and keep them green.
• To the second pot, add the orzo. Cook per package instructions. When tender, drain and place in a large bowl. Add blanched asparagus and tomato halves.
• Mix olive oil, lemon zest, lemon juice, garlic, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Stir into orzo and vegetables. Stir in parsley and grated Parmigiano Reggiano (omit the cheese to make this vegan.)
• This can be served warm, room temperature or cold.

ORZO WITH ROASTED RED PEPPERS & ASPARAGUS

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.

ASPARAGUS ORZO SOUP

Steps:

• Snap off and discard woody bases from asparagus.
• Bias-slice asparagus into 1-inch-long pieces.
• Set aside.
• In a 4-quart Dutch oven cook onion and garlic in hot oil until tender.
• Add chicken broth and bring to a boil.
• Stir in pasta; reduce heat and boil gently for 5 minutes.
• Stir in asparagus and snow peas.
• Return soup to boiling and cook 3 minutes more.
• Stir in spinach and pepper; cook 1 minute more.
• Remove soup from heat.
• Ladle soup into bowls.
• If desired, swirl 1 to 2 teaspoons pesto into each bowl of soup.
• Sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top of each serving.

SAFFRON ORZO WITH ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• heat butter in skillet, add orzo and stir.
• add broth and saffron, bring to boil, cover, reduce heat to simmer, cook 8 minutes add asparagus, cover, cook 5 minutes more.
• uncover and simmer until liquid is absorbed.
• stir in parmesan cheese, salt, pepper.
• serve in a bowl garnished with shavings.