Springtime Orzo Food

CREAMY ORZO

Steps:

• Bring a heavy large saucepan of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the orzo and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring often, about 8 minutes. Drain, reserving 1 cup of the cooking liquid.
• Meanwhile, heat the oil in a heavy large frying pan over medium heat. Add the shallot and garlic, and saute until tender, about 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes and cook until they are tender, about 8 minutes. Stir in the cream and peas. Add the orzo and toss to coat. Remove the skillet from the heat. Add the Parmesan to the pasta mixture and toss to coat. Stir the pasta mixture until the sauce coats the pasta thickly, adding enough reserved cooking liquid to maintain a creamy consistency. Season the orzo with salt and pepper, and serve.

QUICK AND EASY SPRING VEGETABLE ORZO

Steps:

• Melt butter in a large heavy saucepan.
• Sauté onions and mushrooms until tender but not browned.
• Add orzo and stir to coat.
• Add carrots, peas and broth. Bring to boil and cook until orzo is tender, about 5 minutes.
• Remove from heat, stir in Parmesan and cover.
• Let rest 5-8 minutes. Sprinkle with parsley and season with salt and pepper.

SPRINGTIME ORZO SOUP

Steps:

• Cook orzo per package directions. Cook al dente.
• Heat oil in large saucepan over medium heat.
• Add garlic and onions to oil and saute until soft, about five minutes.
• Add mushrooms, red potatoes and herbs to saucepan and saute for a few minutes.
• Add 6 cups broth to the saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce to simmer and cook until vegetables are tender, about 15 minutes.
• Add frozen peas, orzo and spinach and cook for about five minutes.
• Add salt and pepper to taste. Top with Parmesan cheese to taste - I like to heap it on!

SPRINGTIME ORZO

Steps:

• Cook orzo in 4 quarts of boiling salted water, stirring occasionally, for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente. Drain orzo and cool by spreading on a large baking sheet. Transfer pasta to a large serving bowl. Add all remaining ingredients and toss to combine. Serve chilled.

SPRING VEGETABLE ORZO WITH BROAD BEANS, PEAS, ARTICHOKES & RICOTTA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to the boil and cook the orzo following pack instructions until al dente. Drain, then immediately plunge into cold water to halt the cooking.
• Halve the lemon, then cut the tips from the artichokes with a serrated knife and strip away the tough outer leaves. Pare away any tough bits from the bases, and trim the stalks to about 5cm, peeling away the outer skins to reveal the white cores. Quarter the artichokes, scooping out the hairy chokes, then halve each quarter. Transfer to a bowl and squeeze over the juice from half the lemon, tossing to coat.
• Heat the oil in a heavy-bottomed frying pan over a medium heat and fry the potatoes, spring onions, garlic and artichokes, stirring for 5-6 mins until the potatoes are starting to brown. Add the mint sprig, wine and 500ml water, then season, cover and simmer for 12-15 mins until the potatoes and artichokes are tender. Add the broad beans and peas and cook for 2 mins more until tender but still retaining their bright colour. Remove the pan from the heat. Drain the orzo and stir into the pan with the chopped mint and most of the lemon zest, then leave to stand for a couple of minutes so the orzo can absorb the flavours. Taste for seasoning and adjust the salt, and squeeze over the remaining lemon half, if you think it needs it.
• Dish into warmed bowls and top with spoonfuls of the ricotta. Scatter over the crushed pink peppercorns and the remaining lemon zest, then grate over some pecorino to serve.

SPRING ORZO RISOTTO

Steps:

• Pour vegetarian chicken broth and vegetable broth into a medium saucepan over over medium heat; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer and cover until needed.
• Melt butter and oil together in a 12-inch skillet over medium heat. Add onion, pepper flakes, and a pinch of sea salt and pepper. Cook and stir for about 4 minutes before adding the zucchini and another pinch of sea salt. Stir and continue to cook for about 3 minutes. Next, stir in the dry orzo pasta and continue to cook, stirring often, for 5 minutes.
• Pour in wine, stirring as it bubbles until the rapid bubbling stops. Pour in hot broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat slightly and add cheese rind and 1/2 teaspoon sea salt. Cook and stir until a good portion of the liquid has been soaked up by the orzo, about 10 minutes. Stir in asparagus and frozen peas and continue to simmer until nearly all of the liquid is gone and orzo is fully cooked, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat.
• Stir in Grana Padano cheese, parsley, lemon zest and juice, and desired amount of cracked pepper. Remove and discard cheese rind. Taste and adjust salt and pepper as desired.