The first time I prepared this, it became such a great hit that my kids wanted this in their lunch boxes too. That, for me, is a big compliment, and I had to oblige. But I tried it with the Instant Pot the second time, and that was even better and inspired me to share this lovely recipe with my readers. I agree to be sent email.
With simple ingredients and an even simpler procedure, this recipe will be a welcome option for a weekday meal. I like to have it as a main course, but given how light it is on your appetite, it can also act as a side for a larger meal you plan. With its chewy texture, Orzo grains taste the best when you infuse a lot of flavors around every grain. For this recipe, I used mint leaves and thyme along with the flavor of lemon, which turned out very well. It is also important when you add the flavors. I added them when I sauteed the Orzo grains to extract the most flavors from mint and thyme.
What is Orzo?
I had the same question years ago when I first tasted this at a friend’s place. It looks strikingly similar to rice in its looks, but yet it is just pasta made from white flour or sometimes even whole grains. There are several ways to prepare Orzo such as soup, casserole, pilaf, or salad. Soup and salad are my favorite ways to cook them and today we look at how to prepare a simple, down-to-earth salad with peas and a hint of lemon.
Ingredients note
Orzo: I bought this from sprouts and used Durum wheat orzo. If you have gluten sensitivities, then you can use a gluten-free orzo.Lemon: I used the lemon juice from one lemon and zested lemon for this recipePeas: You can either use frozen or fresh green peas. I used frozen because it is more convenient.Olive oil: You can use any cooking oil of your choiceGarlic: I used two garlic cloves, but you can adjust this to your liking. Or use dried minced garlic.Herbs: I used dried thyme and fresh mint leaves.
How to make this recipe
To begin with, you have to press the ‘saute’ button and add olive oil to the inner pot. As the oil heats up, saute garlic until it turns slightly golden. Then add orzo and saute for 30 seconds or so and make sure it doesn’t burn. Proceed with adding the rest of the ingredients (thyme, mint leaves, and frozen peas) except the lemon zest and lemon juice and stir well. Add water or vegetable broth and salt.
Expert tips
Saute them in olive oil before starting to boil them.Add the spices and condiments like mint leaves, thyme, and even garlic when you saute.Pour in vegetable broth or water. Add frozen peas and start the cooking process with the Instant Pot.In the end, add lemon zest, lemon juice, and basil leaves.
Is Orzo gluten-free?
Since Orzo is a type of pasta, it is generally not gluten-free. It is made with wheat flour and semolina flour. But there are special gluten-free options available, but I have not tried them as of yet. Set the pot to MANUAL/PRESSURE COOK (High Pressure) and set the timer to 4 minutes. After 5 mins under pressure, use the quick release option before opening the instant pot lid. Add lemon zest and lemon juice stir nicely then serve warm or cold. I hope you will share my excitement about this new style of pasta salad. Try it today and if you like it, please rate or comment below. If you follow a strict gluten-free diet, please ensure you find the gluten-free version.
The shelf life
If you have leftovers from this recipe, you have nothing to worry about….The leftover Lemon Orzo can be stored in an airtight container for up to a week. So if you are the type to plan all your meals for the week ahead of time, this will be a good option as you can prepare well ahead of time and claim your weekdays back!
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