Description
Garlic orzo delight brings Mediterranean comfort to dinner tables with rich, cheesy flavors. Parmesan, herbs, and creamy textures combine seamlessly, inviting diners to savor each comforting spoonful.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 tablespoons (60 ml / 2 fl oz) vegan butter, separated
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 cups (470 ml / 16 fl oz) orzo
- 3 cups (710 ml / 24 fl oz) vegetable stock or bouillon and water
- ½ cup (75 g / 2.6 oz) onion, diced
- ½ cup (40 g / 1.4 oz) nutritional yeast
- ¾ cup (180 ml / 6 fl oz) plain rice milk, unsweetened
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon dried parsley
- 2 teaspoons lime juice
Instructions
- Preparation Setup: Melt vegan butter in a spacious skillet over medium-low heat, creating a smooth culinary canvas for the orzo transformation.
- Aromatic Foundation: Sauté finely chopped onions and minced garlic until they release their fragrant essence and become translucent, developing a rich flavor base.
- Pasta Toasting: Introduce orzo to the skillet, carefully toasting the grains until they achieve a golden-brown hue and emit a nutty aroma, stirring consistently to ensure even coloration.
- Liquid Integration: Pour vegetable stock into the skillet, allowing the liquid to reach a gentle boil while thoroughly coating the pasta grains.
- Cooking Process: Reduce heat to a low simmer, cover the skillet, and let the orzo cook for 10-12 minutes, intermittently stirring to prevent adherence and guarantee uniform tenderness.
- Creamy Transformation: Fold in remaining vegan butter, then gradually incorporate rice milk and nutritional yeast, creating a luxurious, velvety sauce that envelops each pasta grain.
- Flavor Enhancement: Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper, then elevate the dish with chopped fresh parsley and a zesty lime juice splash to brighten the overall profile.
- Final Fusion: Allow the mixture to simmer for an additional 1-2 minutes, enabling the flavors to harmonize before serving the orzo at an optimal temperature.
Notes
- Toast Orzo Carefully: Browning the pasta grains develops a rich, nutty flavor that elevates the entire dish’s depth and complexity.
- Control Liquid Absorption: Watch the orzo closely while simmering to prevent overcooking or turning mushy, ensuring a perfect al dente texture.
- Create Creamy Consistency: Stirring nutritional yeast and rice milk gradually helps develop a smooth, velvety sauce without lumps.
- Enhance Final Flavors: Adding fresh parsley and lime juice at the end brings brightness and freshness, cutting through the creamy richness.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 18 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 265
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 490 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 39 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg