Creamy Squash Orzo Food

ROASTED VEGETABLE ORZO

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.

CREAMY SQUASH ORZO

Steps:

• Cook orzo pasta according to package instructions.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F, cut squash into half, place in the ovenproof dish skin side up with a bit of water on a bottom and bake 30-40 minute. Wrap garlic gloves in greased aluminum foil and bake on a rack together with squash.
• Take out squash and garlic from the oven and let them cool. When cold enough to handle scoop out the seeds from the squash and throw them away. Using fork take out the inside of the squash into a bowl.
• Add squash into a food processor. Cut off the stems from each garlic clove and squeeze out of its skin into a food processor. Combine with Greek yogurt, almonds, salt and pepper and process until smooth.
• In a pot mix with orzo, parsley and add more salt or pepper if necessary. Heat slightly and serve.
• Tip: I tried making this dish with other type of pasta, I think elbows and it did not work that well. I mean it worked great when it was eaten right away but when I left a portion for the next day it became a bit lumpy and elbows became somehow overcooked so if you want to make more for the next day do not combine all the sauce with pasta at once, leave some separate for the next day and combine just before eating. Plus I think it just looks and tastes better with orzo but you can experiment with other types of pasta. When combined with elbows it becomes healthier version of mac & cheese. Also it might be good to substitute almonds for parmesan.

CREAMY ORZO WITH FRESH VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Heat oil in large sauce pan, cook onion over medium high heat for 2 minutes. Stir In garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Stir in uncooked orzo & and toss to coat and cook for 1 minute. Reduce heat to medium. Slowly stir in 1/2 cup of stock at a time. Adding the next half cup when the previous one has been absorbed. When orzo is tender stir in a drizzle of olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Toss orzo with steamed vegetables. Serve with grated Parmesan and black pepper.

MINTED SQUASH ORZO

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil over medium heat. Stir in the orzo and cook for 8 minutes; pasta will be slightly undercooked. Reserve 1/2 cup of the cooking water, then drain the orzo in a colander in the sink.
• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the squash, season with salt and pepper, to taste, and cook, stirring occasionally, until beginning to brown and soften, about 4 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium-low, and add the cooked orzo and cooking water. Bring to a simmer and stir in 3/4 of the feta; season with salt and pepper. Cook until the water is absorbed, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the remaining 2 tablespoons oil and mint.
• Transfer to a serving platter and sprinkle the remaining feta over the top and garnish with additional chopped mint.

ORZO WITH SUMMER SQUASH AND PESTO

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.

SQUASH WITH ORZO & ROASTED GARLIC & FETA SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/ gas 4. Remove the outer layers of the garlic bulb and slice off the root end, being careful to not cut too deep into the cloves. Put on a small sheet of foil, drizzle with 1 tbsp of the olive oil and sprinkle over a pinch of salt. Scrunch to enclose the garlic in the foil and bake for 45 mins. Remove from the oven and leave to cool still wrapped in the foil.
• Meanwhile, toss the squash with 2 tbsp of the oil, the paprika and some seasoning. Tip onto a baking sheet and roast for 30-40 mins, turning halfway, until the squash is tender and has some colour.
• For the sauce, combine the feta, yogurt, lemon juice and 4 of the roasted garlic cloves (squeezing the flesh out of the skins) to create a smooth paste. It should be thick but pourable - add up to 2 tbsp water to loosen if needed. Set aside.
• Cook the orzo in a pan of salted water over a medium heat for 4-5 mins until it's cooked but still has bite. Drain, reserving a cupful of the orzo water and cool in a sieve under cold running water.
• Cook the leek with 1 tbsp oil and the butter over a medium heat in a large pan, stirring regularly, for 5 mins. Add the preserved lemon and the flesh of 3 roasted garlic cloves, then mash together well. Once the leeks are translucent, tip in the cooked orzo, stock and a splash of the pasta cooking water. Stir for a minute to warm through the orzo. Mix in half of the parsley.
• Spoon the orzo and leeks onto plates, top with the squash and drizzle over the feta sauce. Sprinkle with remaining parsley and serve.

ORZO WITH YELLOW SQUASH, MUSHROOMS, AND PINE NUTS

Steps:

• Melt butter with oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add shallot; sauté 2 minutes. Add squash. Increase heat to medium-high; sauté until softened, about 3 minutes. Add mushrooms; sauté until tender, about 6 minutes. Add garlic and stir 1 minute. Season with salt and pepper.
• Meanwhile, cook orzo in boiling salted water until just tender but firm to bite. Drain, reserving 1/3 cup pasta liquid.
• Mix orzo, cheese, cream, and 3 tablespoons parsley into vegetables in skillet. Stir over low heat until creamy, adding some reserved pasta liquid if dry, about 3 minutes. Mix in pine nuts. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to bowl; sprinkle with 1 tablespoon parsley.

BROWN-BUTTER ORZO WITH BUTTERNUT SQUASH

Steps:

• In a medium Dutch oven, or a large (12-inch) skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Cook, swirling occasionally, until the foam subsides, the milk solids turn golden brown and it smells nutty and toasty, 3 to 4 minutes. (Watch carefully to see that it doesn't burn.)
• Stir in shallots and cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly softened, about 2 minutes. Add squash, sage, a large pinch of salt, the 1/4 teaspoon black pepper and the 1/4 teaspoon red-pepper flakes, and cook until squash is golden at the edges and begins to soften, 12 to 17 minutes.
• Add stock and bring to a simmer. Stir in orzo, lemon zest and the 1 teaspoon salt. Cover the pan and simmer over medium-low heat until orzo is just tender and most of the liquid is absorbed, 14 to 18 minutes, stirring once or twice. If the pan dries out before the orzo and squash are tender, add a splash or two of water.
• Remove pan from heat and stir in Parmesan. Taste and add more salt if needed, and a squeeze of lemon juice if the dish needs brightness. Dollop with ricotta if using, and sprinkle with more grated Parmesan and black pepper just before serving, garnishing the top with more red-pepper flakes and sage.

BUTTERNUT SQUASH ORZO

Steps:

• In a deep skillet, melt butter with oil over medium-high heat.
• Add onion and cook for about 6 minutes, or until tender and starting to brown.
• Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
• Add squash and stir.
• Add 1/2 cup chicken broth and simmer over medium heat until liquid is absorbed and squash is barely tender.
• While it is simmering, bring the remaining broth to a boil.
• Add orzo and cook for about 8 minutes, until cooked al dente.
• Drain any excess liquid.
• Combine squash mixture with orzo and heat together for a few minutes, until the squash is tender.
• Pour into a bowl and toss with basil and cheese.
• Add salt and pepper to taste.