Creamy Vegetable Orzo Delight 🌿✨

Orzo a La Melanie Recipe 🍝

Overview:

Orzo a La Melanie is a vibrant and versatile pasta dish that’s perfect for any occasion. Whether you’re serving it as a side dish, a satisfying lunch, or as part of a buffet spread, this recipe is sure to impress. What makes it stand out is its adaptability – you can easily swap out vegetables based on what you have on hand. Plus, vegetarians can rejoice as this dish can be made with vegetable stock instead of chicken broth. With its colorful array of veggies and flavorful Parmesan cheese, this dish is a crowd-pleaser that will leave everyone asking for seconds!

• Preparation Time: 15 minutes
• Cooking Time: 15 minutes
• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Servings: 6
• Yield: 8-12 (ideal for buffet)

Ingredients:

• 1 cup orzo pasta
• 2 tsp salt
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• 1 carrot, diced
• 4 green onions, chopped
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1 zucchini, diced
• 3 tomatoes, diced
• 1/2 cup tomato sauce
• 1/2 cup vegetable stock
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Cook Orzo: Start by cooking the orzo pasta according to the package instructions. Don’t forget to add 2 teaspoons of salt to the boiling water for flavor.

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2. Sauté Vegetables: While the orzo is cooking, heat olive oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Sauté the diced red bell pepper and carrot for about 10 minutes, or until they soften.

3. Add Aromatics: Increase the heat to medium and add the chopped green onions and minced garlic to the pan. Sauté for an additional 2 to 3 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld together.

4. Incorporate Squash and Zucchini: Stir in the diced squash and zucchini, and cook for a couple more minutes until they start to soften.

5. Introduce Tomato Elements: Add the diced tomatoes and tomato sauce to the pan, combining them with the vegetables.

6. Add Liquid: Pour in the vegetable stock, allowing the mixture to come to a gentle simmer.

7. Combine with Orzo: Once the sauce is simmering, reduce the heat to low and carefully stir in the drained orzo pasta.

8. Creamy Touch: Next, add the cream to the pan, stirring continuously until everything is well combined and creamy.

9. Cheesy Finish: Sprinkle in the grated Parmesan cheese, stirring until it melts and coats the pasta beautifully.

10. Season to Taste: Remove the pan from the heat and season the dish with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.

11. Serve: Your Orzo a La Melanie is now ready to be enjoyed! You can serve it immediately while it’s hot, or let it cool down to room temperature for a delightful buffet offering.

Nutritional Information (per serving):

• Calories: 216.8
• Fat: 7.1g
• Saturated Fat: 2.9g
• Cholesterol: 12.9mg
• Sodium: 1058.8mg
• Carbohydrates: 29.5g
• Fiber: 3.1g
• Sugar: 5.8g
• Protein: 9.4g

Tips:

• Feel free to customize this recipe by swapping out vegetables based on your preferences or what’s in season.
• For a richer flavor, you can use chicken stock instead of vegetable stock.
• Garnish with fresh herbs like basil or parsley for an extra pop of color and flavor.
• Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Simply reheat before serving.

Orzo a La Melanie is a delightful dish that’s as easy to make as it is delicious. With its colorful presentation and fantastic flavor profile, it’s sure to become a staple in your recipe repertoire. Whether you’re cooking for a weeknight dinner or entertaining guests, this dish is guaranteed to impress. Enjoy! 🌟