Also, check the orzo pasta salad with pesto and sundried tomatoes, and fresh tomato basil orzo recipe.
Why you’ll love this recipe
Ingredients
Orzo (risoni): Orzo is rice-shaped pasta used in the Mediterranean and Italian cooking. You may use whole wheat orzo or any other small-shaped pasta. Cooking time will vary accordingly.Olive oil: Add richness and depth of flavor.Garlic cloves: Gives a very good aroma to the dish.Lemon: Lemon juice and zest adds brightness to this pasta salad.Basil: Fresh and finely chopped basil leaves add more flavor to your dish.Liquid: To cook pasta, use water or your favorite broth.Salt: To taste. See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
Variations
You can also add parmesan cheese on top of the cooked lemon orzo. For flavor and nutrition, vegetarian pasta includes roasted capsicum, spinach, asparagus, zucchini, cherry tomatoes, and mushrooms. For protein, add cooked shredded chicken at the end with lemon juice, and toss until combined.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Tips
The amount of liquid you may need to cook orzo depends on the flame’s intensity and the pot’s thickness. If you feel the orzo is undercooked or looks dry toward the end of cooking, add more water, and continue cooking. Let the pasta sit for a little longer if the orzo looks wet. It will absorb all the liquid. Season with pepper powder and red pepper flakes if desired.
More Pasta Recipes to try
Recipe card
This post was first published in July 2015. Updated it with recipes, stepwise pictures, and calorie information.
