Sun Dried Tomato Basil Orzo Food

SUN-DRIED TOMATO BASIL ORZO

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add orzo and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente. Drain and set aside.
• Place basil leaves and sun-dried tomatoes in a food processor. Pulse 4 or 5 times until blended.
• In a large bowl, toss together the orzo, basil-tomato mixture, olive oil, Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper. Serve warm or chilled.

ORZO WITH SUN-DRIED TOMATOES

Steps:

• Cook 1 cup orzo as the label directs. Drain, reserving 1/4 cup cooking water. Toss the orzo and cooking water with 2 cups baby arugula, 1/4 cup each chopped sun-dried tomatoes (not oil-packed) and parmesan, 2 tablespoons butter and 1 teaspoon lemon zest; season with salt and pepper.

SUN-DRIED TOMATO, BLACK OLIVE AND MOZZARELLA ORZO GRATIN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a pot of boiling salted water cook the orzo until al dente and drain. Transfer to a large bowl. In a large skillet cook the onion and fennel in the butter over moderately low heat, covered, for 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes, cream mixture, rosemary and salt and pepper and simmer the mixture for 5 minutes. Add the vegetables to the bowl containing the orzo and stir in the sun-dried tomatoes, olives, all but 1/4 cup of the mozzarella cheese, basil and salt and pepper to taste. Transfer the mixture to a buttered 1-quart baking dish and sprinkle with the remaining Mozzarella and Parmesan. Bake for 30 minutes, or until golden brown.

SUN-DRIED TOMATO BASIL ORZO

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add orzo and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente. Drain and set aside.
• Place basil leaves and sun-dried tomatoes in a food processor. Pulse 4 or 5 times until blended.
• In a large bowl, toss together the orzo, basil-tomato mixture, olive oil, Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper. Serve warm or chilled.

SUN-DRIED TOMATO AND HERBED/CHEESED BAKED ORZO

Steps:

• Heat olive oil and butter over medium/high heat in saucepan til hot. Add shallots and cook til translucent, but not brown. Add chopped sun-dried tomatoes. Cook 1 minute more, stirring and moving mixture around constantly. Add garlic, cooking one minute more. Be careful at this point not to burn garlic or all will be ruined.
• Add 1 cup orzo to saucepan, constantly stirring and toasting the pasta for 1 to 2 minutes. Add chicken broth, and crank heat up to high to bring to a boil. Add salt and pepper for seasoning, being careful not to over-salt, as parmesano reggiano has a high salt content. When boil is reached, cover and reduce to simmer and cover til most of liquid is absorbed. You want SOME liquid to remain.
• Transfer to a bowl. Add fontina cheese and 1/4 cup parmesan, basil and parsley. Add cream. Stir well. Transfer to 2-quart buttered/greased ramekin or equivalent and cover the top with the mixture of Italian seasoned bread crumbs and remaining 1/4 cup reggiano cheese.
• Dot top with bits of butter and bake in 375 oven for approximately 30 minutes.
• Serve immediately, grating more reggiano over dish if desired.

ORZO SALAD WITH SUN-DRIED TOMATOES

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, cook pasta in boiling water until just tender, about 8 minutes.
• Drain.
• Place garlic, salt, pepper, mustard and vinegar into a food processor.
• Process well.
• Add oil, process briefly until well blended.
• Pour over orzo while pasta is still warm.
• Add tomatoes to pasta along with olives and chopped parsley.
• Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
• Toss again and adjust seasonings, if necessary.
• Serve immediately, or refrigerate for later use (can be made earlier in the day).
• Best served at room temperature.