Mediterranean Vegetable Orzo Pasta (One Pot Recipe)

What is orzo?

Orzo, also known as risoni, is a type of short rice-shaped pasta (think of pearl couscous but elongated).

My grandma and her friends used to make it by themselves.

When I was a kid, I often watched her making orzo pasta. She would mix some flour, water and salt to make the dough (sometimes she also added eggs).

I never saw her using a scale or measuring cups. She eyeballed everything and yet the outcome was the same every time!

After letting the dough rest for a while – for the gluten to develop – she would take very small pieces, pinch them with her two fingers, and rub them against the table to form the rice shaped pasta.

After sprinkling them with flour to prevent them from sticking to each other, she placed them on a big table covered with a clean sheet.

Ingredients

To make this one-pot Mediterranean vegetable orzo pasta recipe, you'll need the following simple ingredients:

• Leeks (or scallions)
• Olive oil
• Orzo pasta (also known as risoni)
• Dried thyme (or oregano)
• Mixed frozen vegetables (such as peas, baby carrots, red bell peppers, corn)
• Warm water or vegetable stock (for non vegetarian you can also use chicken broth)
• Greek yogurt (or cream cheese)
• Grated parmesan cheese
• Salt and ground black pepper to taste

Feel free to add your favorite fresh herbs. Fresh basil, parsley, dill and tarragon will pair very well with the creamy vegetable orzo pasta.

For extra flavor you can add one or two minced garlic cloves and a teaspoon of lemon zest. Lemon and garlic is a classic Mediterranean combination and will give this dish a brighter character.

You can substitute the Parmesan cheese with feta cheese to give this dish a Greek note.

Toasted pine nuts, when sprinkled over this dish will pair beautifully with the rest of the ingredients. Use them when you want to impress your friends and family.

Gluten intolerant people and people who follow a gluten free diet can use gluten-free orzo to make this recipe.

People who follow the Mediterranean Diet is best to use whole wheat orzo.

Instructions

Follow these easy steps for a quick, delicious and healthy orzo risotto:

Step 2: Add the orzo

Add the orzo pasta, the thyme and the vegetables and stir for 2 minutes.

Start tasting to see if the orzo risotto is ready when you have used 6 cups of stock.

Step 4: Add the yogurt and the cheese

When the orzotto is ready, turn off the heat and add the yogurt, the Parmesan cheese, the freshly ground black pepper and the salt.

Stir gently to combine and sprinkle some chopped parsley on top. Serve immediately.

How to serve

I like to serve this vegetable orzo pasta dish with some slices of fresh bread or bread sticks and marinated cheese cubes.

To make the marinated cheese cubes follow these steps:

• Transfer 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar, ½ teaspoon black pepper and ½ teaspoon oregano (or tarragon) to a glass jar and shake well to combine.
• Add 7 oz (200 grams) of hard cheese such as Parmesan, Cheddar, Kefalotyri, Gruyere cut in small cubes and let them marinate for 30-60 minutes.
• Serve over salads and other dishes.

Expert Tips

• Don’t have vegetable stock? No worries, just use water!
• Greek yogurt provides creaminess without adding too much fat, but you can also use low fat cream cheese.
• The marinated cheese cubes pair well with this orzotto and also add to the protein content of the dish. Serve with bread sticks for extra pleasure!

Storage

Just like a risotto, this creamy orzo pasta recipe is best eaten right away.

If you have any leftovers, you can put it in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.

The best way to reheat orzotto without breaking the "grains" of pasta is in a microwave oven. Before microwaving add a splash of water.

Related Recipes to Consider...

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