***After making this Athenian Orzo recently, I was inspired to try another orzo dish. Every once in a while, I'll get a little more creative than usual in the kitchen and attempt something completely new without using a recipe. This Creamy Orzo with Asparagus & Parmesan was my reward! This turned out way better than I expected. Brad and I both loved this side dish!
The creamy orzo pairs perfectly with the yummy crunch of the asparagus...and of course, parmesan makes everything better! This dish pairs perfectly with a variety of main courses...chicken, steak or seafood. Next time, I may even add a little prosciutto or bacon to this. With that addition, it would even make a great meal in inself!
Because it's been a few days since I made this, I am going to guesstimate at the quantities of the ingredients. Please feel free to adjust the quantities to your own liking. You can't mess this dish up...it's super easy!***
Creamy Orzo with Asparagus & Parmesan
Ingredients:
1 cup orzo
1 cup asparagus, cut into 1 inch pieces
1 tbsp butter or margarine
1/4 to 1/2 cup cream
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
Salt & Pepper, to taste
Directions:
Bring a large sauce pan of water (filled about halfway) to a boil over medium heat. Cook the orzo until tender, about 10 minutes.
After the orzo has been cooking for about 5 minutes, add the asparagus to the same pot (this will allow the orzo and asparagus to cook in the same pot and keep the clean-up to a minimum!).
Once the orzo and asaparagus are cooked and tender, drain and return to the pot.
Quickly add the parmesan cheese and butter. Stir thoroughly, allowing both the cheese and butter to melt. Slowly add the cream to the mixture, while stirring. Continue to stir and add cream until you reach your desired consistency.
Season with salt and pepper.
Voila! You have a delicious side dish! Serve immediately.
49 comments:
This looks delicious! I love how creamy it is!
Looks great! You had me at asparagus.
I get whole wheat orzo at whole funds... you gotta try it.
This looks right up our alley - I need to make this in my house!
Gonna try this tonight. I found a recipe for this in a magazine but now I cannot for the life of me locate it. This looks easy and delish. :-)
I used broccoli and half and half, it's delicious, I'll be adding this to our regular meal plans. Next ill be trying green peas. Thank you for sharing an easy, yet yummy dish.
Thank ya'll so much for your comments! :)
Dish was quick, easy, and delicious! I added some peas to it to have some extra veggies.
Great job! I made this tonight for dinner and we loved it. Easy enough my daughter will make it, too. Thank you!
Thank ya'll so much for commenting. Peas! That's a great idea. I'm glad that you guys liked it! :)
This was wonderful.Simple to throw together and everything is usually on hand. I used some leftover cooked green beans. It was great. My toddler gobbled it up. Thanks so much!
Thanks, Josi! :)
I made this today with fresh green beans! Yum!
Jen - SO glad you liked it! :)
I just came across this recipe and it looks delicious! Do you think I can substitute milk for the cream to lower the calories a bit for this dish? Or do you think the cream is necessary for the consistency/taste of it?
I made this last night and it was so easy and delicious. Went well with a spicy bbq'd meat. Thank you for sharing.
There's one MAJOR problem with this recipe that I'm surprised no one else has had...I don't want to share it with ANYONE!!! My 2 year old son looked at me as if I had gone mad when I took the first delicious bite! Daddy is out of town on business and I am reluctant to make this for him because I know we will be standing over the stove waiting impatiently for it to be ready! As I stated earlier...I will not share nice with him!! Thank you, thank you for this recipe. It is so simple, quick and versitile. I already had all of the ingredients which made it even better!
Thank you!
~Shannon and Jameson (A.K.A. Little Man)
morepleasecupcakes@gmail.com
Thanks to everyone for your comments! This is one of my favorite side dish recipes.
Hayley - If you substitute with milk, I would maybe stick with whole milk. Perhaps using half milk and half cream would be a good solution. I don't cook often with cream, but this dish really benefits from it.
Megan - I'm so glad that you liked it. I imagine it indeed would be delish with with spicy BBQ.
Shannon - I'm so glad that you loved it!!! :-)
Thanks everyone for stopping by my little blog! :-)
Recipe looks delicious an simple. What a great combination! I will be trying this later this week with leftover rotisserie chicken (the precooked grocery store type) cut up right in the dish to make it a full meal on its own. Thanks!
Looks delicious and simple. What a great combination! I will be trying this later this week with rotisserie chicken (the precooked grocery store type) mixed in for a complete one-bowl style meal. I will also try using part chicken stock to cook the orzo since I think it adds a bit more depth of flavour, and I will use a steam basket over too of the boiling orzo to cook the asparagus since it keeps in more nutrition. Great idea though thank you!!
I did try this tonight and it was great!!!! So easy and so delicious! I added some wine into the boiling liquid instead of the chicken stock I mentioned the other day and it was great! My boyfriend loved it too! will definitely make this again!
when you say cream as in like what kind of cream ?!
wait when you say cream what kind of cream?!? help please
Hi Jennifer! It should be heavy whipping cream. :)
SamiBubbles - I'm so glad that you liked it! Wine sounds like a great addition.
I found this recipe on Pinterest and made it last night! It turned out great. I shared it with my blog readers as well. Thanks for the great recipe!
~Dana, www.consciouskitchenblog.com
If I'm using one cup of orzo, how much water do I use?
A good recipe -- creamy and toothsome -- but a bit bland. I might try it again sometime with onion and garlic and maybe something a bit spicy. Thanks for introducing me to creamy orzo!
I'm sure you can use a dollop of Greek yogurt. I tend to in most recipes that call for cream or sour cream. Adding this to my recipes to try!
I have never cooked with orzo, so I was wondering how much water also. Plus do you drain the orzo?
I made this tonight for dinner. My boyfriend and I loved it!! I boiled the orzo and asparagus in chicken stock instead of water and I used 1/4 cup whipping cream because that's all I had.
Will definitely be making this in the future, great recipe!
very tasty side dish! It even passed the man test :-) love that it makes a decent amount, I know what's for lunch tomorrow!
A bit bland...try adding onion powder, garlic powder and a dash of chili flakes! :)
Made this for dinner tonight! Perfect! I added sauteed mushrooms to mine along with the asparagus. This dish coupled with a glass of wine was the perfect meal while the boyfriend was out for the night!! Can't wait to eat the leftovers :)
This was amazing! Loved it very much and so simple to make!
I just made this for dinner tonight! It was delicious! I added chicken to make it our main dish. I'm always looking for different ways to cook veggies and this was great! Thanks so much for sharing!
Made this tonight & while it was really good as is I took suggestions from here & my family on how we want to tweak it for next time :) Will boil pasta & veggies in chicken broth for more flavor, add more parmesan & maybe some mushrooms. Definitely a keeper!
Made this first time tonight and it is delicious !!
Great shortcut to asparagus risotto. Will definitely try out! Thanks for sharing...
I just made this tonight...great dish!I I added shelled edamame into the boiling water with the asparagus and then added roasted grape tomatoes and shrimp at the end. Instead of cream, i used cream cheese and it added a nice tangy flavor.
Awesome! I made it with mushrooms too, boiled the pasta in chicken stock. Delish!!
My grandaugher Jamie made this dish for dinner when she visited me from Flordia, the whole family loved it. She did add shrimp to it and it was great.I now have the recipe and can't wait to try it for myself.
I just made a gluten-free, lighter version by replacing the orzo with rice and the cream with 1/4 c. low-fat greek yogurt and 1/8 c. milk. It was so good, thank you for the inspiration! I might try it with quinoa next time!
Commenter # 5 said she used half n half. Just wondering if it turned out the same as if heavy whipping cream was used? And same amount?
We just renamed this dish the OMG dish - it is that good. Even my picky 7-year old asked for seconds.
Just made this and it is delicious! I cooked the asparagus a little too long, but will correct this the next time I make it! Yum!
BACON! I didnt change anything in this recipe... but i had some leftover bacon in the fridge. So i chopped it up and put it in the mix. I wont tell anyone when Im making it next time so I dont have to share. :)
Just made this and it is super easy and fast. Tasted great but I would agree it needs something else to make it less bland. Maybe some chile flakes?
I made this a few months ago with Half & Half and added leftover roasted chicken. Everyone loved it including my grandchildren. I am making it again and am adding sundried tomatoes along with the chicken. Sauteed mushrooms sound good, perhaps I will try that too. Thanks for the great recipe!
I used 1/2 cup of fat free half & half. It turned out perfect. Thank you for the wonderful and easy recipe. I tis definitely a keeper.
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