Orzo "paella" Style

Submitted by Veeyababy

"Not really paella, but I couldn't think of another name! A great dish I made up tonight, using ingredients on hand. Use whatever you like - I left out a few things of this version and it was great! My 2 year old (very picky) put the first bite in his mouth and said "YUM!" and my husband went back for 4ths! Add as much lemon juice as you like, my husband liked less than I did, so letting guests decide their amount by serving lemon wedges or juice on the side. This amount I made, would serve 4."

 

• Ready In: 30mins
• Ingredients: 15
• Serves: 4

ingredients

• 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 12 clams or 12 mussels, cooked
• 12 jumbo shrimp, cooked
• 1 cup orzo pasta
• 2 cups stock, heated (I used vegetable)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1⁄4 cup chopped red onion
• 1⁄2 cup rough chopped zucchini
• 1⁄2 cup rough chopped yellow squash
• 2 cloves chopped garlic
• 2 tablespoons pimientos
• salt
• saffron, if desired
• 1 handful chopped parsley
• lemon juice

directions

1. Heat olive oil in deep saucepan and add red onion, saute for 5 min, then add zucchini and squash.
2. Saute 5 more minute and add dry orzo and toast for 4 minute Add garlic, pimentos and a dash of salt (and saffron if using), then add stock. Stir every couple minutes for about 10 minutes until all liquid has been absorbed and orzo is cooked through.
3. Meanwhile, which orzo is cooking, grill chicken breasts until just cooked through with grill marks - and put the shrimp on the grill for the last few minutes.
4. Steam mussels/clams.
5. Stir parsley into orzo pan and then nestle seafood and large slices of chicken into the pan and serve.