Description
A comforting and delicious orzo dish with roasted garlic and creamy Parmesan, perfect as a side or main course.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup orzo pasta
- 4 cups vegetable broth
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 head of garlic, roasted
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste
- Chopped fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Slice off the top of the garlic head to expose the cloves.
- Drizzle the garlic with olive oil and wrap it in foil.
- Roast the garlic for 30-35 minutes until soft and golden.
- Cool the garlic and squeeze the cloves out of their skins.
- In a medium saucepan, bring vegetable broth to a gentle boil.
- Add orzo and cook for 8-10 minutes until tender but slightly firm.
- Drain excess broth, reserving some for thinning the sauce.
- Return cooked orzo to the saucepan over low heat.
- Stir in heavy cream and roasted garlic cloves, mashing garlic to distribute.
- Cook for 2-3 minutes to meld flavors.
- Gradually mix in grated Parmesan cheese, stirring constantly until melted and sauce thickens.
- Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
- Add reserved broth if the sauce is too thick.
- Transfer orzo to serving bowls and garnish generously with chopped fresh parsley.
Notes
For a healthier twist, use whole grain orzo and part-skim cheese, or add veggies like spinach or cherry tomatoes.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 300mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 60mg
Keywords: orzo, garlic, creamy, Parmesan, Italian, pasta, comfort food, vegetarian