Description
Make a creamy, risotto-style dish using orzo pasta, fresh asparagus, and sharp Parmesan cheese. This recipe provides a comforting main course or side dish.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 1/2 cups orzo pasta
- 1/2 cup dry white wine (optional)
- 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth, warm
- 1 pound fresh asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large, deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook until soft, about 5 minutes.
- Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Add the orzo pasta to the skillet and toast for 2 minutes, stirring constantly, until the edges look slightly translucent.
- If using, pour in the white wine and cook, stirring, until it is fully absorbed.
- Add one ladle (about 1 cup) of the warm chicken broth to the orzo. Stir frequently until the liquid is almost completely absorbed.
- Continue adding the broth, one ladleful at a time, stirring often and waiting until each addition is absorbed before adding the next. This process takes about 15 minutes.
- When you have about 1 cup of broth remaining, stir in the cut asparagus pieces. Continue cooking and adding the final broth until the orzo is tender but still has a slight bite (al dente).
- Remove the skillet from the heat. Stir in the Parmesan cheese, heavy cream, and butter until the mixture is creamy.
- Season with salt and pepper to your taste. Serve immediately topped with extra Parmesan cheese.
Notes
- Keep your broth warm in a separate saucepan while cooking to maintain a consistent temperature when adding it to the orzo.
- If you do not use wine, substitute it with an equal amount of chicken broth at the beginning.
- For a richer flavor, substitute Gruyère cheese for half of the Parmesan.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 25 min
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 550
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 10
- Unsaturated Fat: 8
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 58
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 18
- Cholesterol: 45