Easy Lemon Parmesan Creamy Orzo
Easy creamy orzo flavored with plenty of Parmesan cheese and lemon is a delicious meatless main but we love it with chicken or fish for dinner.
Ingredients Needed
- Orzo pasta. Use any rice-shaped pasta of your choice.
- Extra virgin olive oil.
- Onion.
- Fresh garlic cloves.
- Dried oregano.
- Chilli flakes/red pepper flakes.
- Heavy cream/whipping cream.
- Fresh lemon – you’ll need the zest and juice for this recipe.
- Parmesan cheese. Use a vegetarian alternative if required.
- Salt and black pepper.
How to make Creamy Orzo
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil then add your orzo and allow to cook until al dente. Sauté chopped onion in a splash of olive oil in a large, deep frying pan set over medium-high heat. Once soft and translucent, add the garlic, oregano and chilli flakes and cook for another 30 seconds. Pour in the cream and allow to reduce for 5 minutes then add lemon zest, lemon juice, grated Parmesan, salt and pepper.
Drain the orzo then add to the pan, stirring to coat in the sauce. Serve with extra grated Parmesan cheese.
What to serve with orzo
We love this creamy orzo recipe served with seared salmon or roasted chicken thighs but it’s just as delicious as a meatless main dish.
Can I make this ahead?
Orzo is definitely best served immediately but leftovers can be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Orzo recipes
Ingredients
- 300 g (10oz) orzo pasta
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 medium onion finely chopped
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp chilli flakes
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 lemon zest and juice
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil then add your orzo and allow to cook until al dente.
- Sauté chopped onion in a splash of olive oil in a large, deep frying pan set over medium-high heat.
- Once soft and translucent, add the garlic, oregano and chilli flakes and cook for another 30 seconds.
- Pour in the cream and allow to reduce for 5 minutes then add lemon zest, lemon juice, grated Parmesan, salt and pepper.
- Drain the orzo then add to the pan, stirring to coat in the sauce. Serve with extra grated Parmesan cheese.