Orzo a La Melanie

Submitted by Melanie Singh

"A colorful pasta dish, which can be served as a side dish, as a lunch and is particularly good for a buffet as it does not mind sitting around and tastes just as good at room temperature. I like this recipe because everyone in my house likes it (a rare occurrence) and because any vegetable can be substituted as long as it is cut up small. For vegetarians substitute vegetable stock."

 

• Ready In: 30mins
• Ingredients: 16
• Yields: 8-12 For buffet
• Serves: 6

ingredients

• 1 cup orzo pasta
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 red bell pepper, seeded, cored and diced
• 1 carrot, cut into thin strips
• 4 green onions, cleaned and chopped
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 1 yellow squash, diced
• 1 zucchini, diced
• 1 tomatoes, diced
• 1⁄2 cup tomato sauce
• 1⁄2 cup chicken stock
• 3 tablespoons light cream
• 1⁄2 cup grated parmesan cheese
• salt
• fresh ground black pepper

directions

1. Cook orzo with salt according to packet instructions.
2. Heat the oil in a large frying pan.
3. Sauté red pepper and carrot on a low heat for 10 minutes until softened.
4. Increase heat to medium and add green onions and garlic and sauté for 2 to 3 minutes.
5. Add the squash, zucchini and tomato and cook for a couple of minutes more.
6. Add the tomato sauce and stock.
7. When the sauce comes to a simmer, turn heat to low and stir.
8. Stir in the drained orzo.
9. Stir in the cream.
10. Stir in parmesan cheese.
11. Remove from heat.
12. Add salt and pepper to taste.
13. Can be served immediately, or at room temperature.

Reviews

[Christina1]

This recipe is a great find! I had an orzo primavera recipe that was similar - but the tomato sauce, cream and cheese - make this almost like grown-up macaroni and cheese. It is easy to prepare and has a great look! It is so creamy and reheats beautifully. I am a personal chef and have had such success using Recipezaar recipes without testing and I have to thank great recipe submitters like Melanie - now this is one of my favorites - for me AND my clients!! Thank you!!

 

[Im cookin]

Good base. I made the recipe exactly as stated. It takes time for the flavors to marry, so let it sit somewhere for at least 15 minutes. I would have liked a bit more flavor. I'll try throwing in crushed red pepper and maybe some oregano next time, but it was definitely something that will be easy to build on.

 

[ratherbeswimmin]

Great recipe!! In my hometown, there is a little out-of-the way Italian restaurant the serves a dish that is real similar to yours. My husband and I loved your version and this is what we took for lunch this week. This is excellent as is but I may experiment with a few fresh herbs just for fun. Thanks for sharing your recipe, Melanie.

 

[shanti2]

This was DELICIOUS!!! I made this as written but agreed with others that it needed some additional flavor. It's up to you to add whatever you like. I added some oregano and a dash of red pepper & a few other things we personally like, It is a bit time consuming as you need to chop things , etc. so leave time to prepare. It is extremely easy to put together. I served it with Parmesan Chicken Tenderloins but you can eat as is for a lighter meal. It would go well with anything.

 

[Mustang Sally 54269]

Always looking for good orzo recipes. Liked this one with all the different vegys. Didn't have squash but it still worked ok. Substituted yogurt for the cream. Found it abit too saucy but that might be due to the lack of squash. Next time I'll cut the sauce by a couple tsps.