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orzo pasta recipe
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
This creamy lemon-herb orzo pasta recipe transforms simple pantry staples into a vibrant, family-friendly meal in under 30 minutes, featuring a light and elegant ricotta swirl technique at the end.
Ingredients
- 30 ml extra virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
- 1 small yellow onion, finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 250 g orzo pasta
- 1 g red pepper flakes (optional)
- 720 ml low-sodium vegetable broth
- 1 large lemon (zest and juice)
- 250 g whole milk ricotta cheese
- 15 g fresh dill, finely chopped
- 15 g fresh parsley, finely chopped
- 5 g fine sea salt, plus more to taste
- 2 g freshly ground black pepper, plus more to taste
Instructions
- Sauté Aromatics: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet. Add the diced onion and cook for 5-7 minutes until soft and translucent. Add the minced garlic and red pepper flakes, cooking for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Simmer Orzo: Stir in the orzo pasta, toasting gently for 1-2 minutes. Pour in the vegetable broth and 2 tablespoons of lemon juice. Bring to a simmer, reduce heat, cover, and cook for 10-12 minutes, or until the orzo is al dente and liquid is absorbed. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Prepare Ricotta Mixture: While the pasta cooks, combine the ricotta cheese, lemon zest, dill, and parsley in a bowl. Season with 0.5 teaspoon salt and 0.25 teaspoon black pepper. Gently mix until combined.
- Fold in Ricotta: Remove the cooked orzo from heat. Add the ricotta mixture to the pasta and gently fold it in, creating creamy ribbons rather than a uniform sauce.
- Adjust Seasoning and Serve: Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt, pepper, or the remaining lemon juice. Serve immediately with a drizzle of olive oil and extra fresh herbs.
Notes
To avoid dense orzo when reheating leftovers, add a splash of warm water or broth and gently heat on the stovetop or in the microwave. Freezing this recipe is not recommended, as the texture of the ricotta and orzo changes significantly after thawing.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Dish, Pasta
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 375 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 48 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 13 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg