This quick little side dish of Orzo with Sheet Pan Roasted Vegetables is great for any night of the week. You could even double or triple this recipe and serve it at room temp for cookouts. Heck, it’s a great main course too!
This is such an easy recipe and it gives you plenty of room to tweak it to how you like it.
– Toss some vegetables on a sheet pan with some olive oil and salt.
– Roast for about 10 minutes at 500Ā°F.
– Mix the roasted vegetables with prepared pasta or grains.
– Brighten it up with fresh herbs and citrus zest.
I’m using Orzo today but this recipe can be made with so many other things. It would be just as great with Cous Cous, Quinoa, or Lentils. What I like most about orzo though is that it cooks fast, it’s filling, and you can get this nice creamy starchy sauce from it. Cook it in a minimal amount of chicken stock and stir frequently (or use water or vegetable stock to keep this vegan). Stir the orzo often with a wooden spoon to rub the starchiness out of it. This will yield a more creamy risotto-like result.
I eat a lot of asparagus when it’s in season. This might mean I have to hold my breath when I pee but it’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make. My favorite way to prepare asparagus is grilled over charcoal with olive oil and flaky sea salt then dressed in lemon juice and zest. I tend to only use my grill when I’m making a lot of food so a quick roast in a 500Ā°F oven will do just fine for now. I’m roasting the asparagus with tomatoes and garlic for this Orzo recipe. I like the bright sweetness cherry tomatoes add to the sauce when they break down as you mix everything together. In place of asparagus, you could use veggies like zucchini, broccoli rabe, or bok choy.
I debated about tossing a handful of Parmigiano Reggiano in with the orzo and veggies. I didnāt this time because I really wanted to taste the freshness of everything and I wanted all the creaminess to just come from the starch of the orzo. Also, I heard some Italian chefs on a cooking show once say you should never mix garlic and cheese. I donāt live by that rule but itās something that makes me think twice before going crazy with ingredients. Less is more.
To brighten up a bowl of starchy pasta and roasted vegetables, I like to add fresh herbs and some acid. In this case Iām using fresh basil and some lemon zest. Fresh oregano or parsley would also be nice. Actual lemon juice, I think, would be a little much. Just the zest this time. Save the juice for a little lemon seltzer to drink alongside this Orzo with Sheet Pan Roasted Vegetables.
Orzo with Roasted Vegetables
4
servings10
minutes15
minutes25
minutesOrzo, Roasted Asparagus, Cherry Tomatoes, Garlic with Lemon Zest and Basil.
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Ingredients
8 oz. Orzo
2.5 cups Chicken Stock
1 tsp Kosher Salt
1 lb. Asparagus
1 lb. Cherry Tomatoes
4 Garlic Cloves crushed
2 Tbs Olive Oil
2 tsp Kosher Salt
1 tsp Black Pepper
1 Lemon Zest
12 Basil Leaves finely sliced
Directions
- ORZO
- Bring Chicken Stock and Salt to a boil in a medium pot.
- Add Orzo to the pot stirring often with a wooden spoon to break down the surface starches.
- Orzo is done when it’s tender and little liquid is left int he pot. Add hot water if needed to reach desired doneness. Orzo should be creamy without needing to be drained. Remove from heat when done.
- ROASTED VEGETABLES
- Preheat Oven to 500Ā°F.
- Wash Tomatoes and Asparagus. Cut asparagus in to inch pieces. Crush and peel Garlic Cloves.
- Place vegetables on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper and toss with olive oil, salt, and pepper.
- Roast for 5-10 minutes or just until tomatoes begin to burst.
- ASSEMBLE
- Transfer contents of the sheet pan in to the pot of orzo and stir to combine. Taste for seasoning.
- Fold in the zest of one lemon and finely sliced basil leaves.
- Serve warm or at room temp.
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