Lemon Asparagus Orzo
Servings 6
Calories 264kcal
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound asparagus
PASTA
- 9 ounces orzo pasta 9 ounces = 4 cups
- 2 cups chicken broth use vegetable broth for vegan
- 2 cups water
- ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon turmeric
DRESSING
- 2 teaspoons garlic minced
- 1 lemon
- ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
ASPARAGUS
- Boil about 5 quarts of water in stock pot.A pasta pot (stock pot + strainer insert) is great for blanching vegetables. If you don't have one, no problem! A colander will work just fine.
- Add ice to fill half a large mixing bowl. Add cold water to just cover ice. Set aside.
- Remove woody end of each asparagus spear by allowing it to break naturally at lowest point near base of spear.
- Cut asparagus spears into ½-3/4" pieces. Add to boiling water.
- Boil for ONLY two minutes.
- Quickly remove asparagus from boiling water and immediately plunge into ice water (blanching). This can be done by either lifting strainer insert out of pasta pot or quickly draining asparagus into a strainer or colander.
PASTA
- Bring chicken (or vegetable) broth, water, salt, and turmeric to boil.
- Add orzo pasta and boil for 9 minutes or until al dente, stirring occasionally.
- Drain pasta in strainer, but do not rinse. Transfer to serving bowl.
DRESSING
- Add garlic, salt, and pepper to small mixing bowl (or simply use the 4-cup measuring cup used to measure the broth and water for the pasta).
- Zest lemon into garlic mixture. Then cut lemon in half and juice it into garlic mixture.
- Using a whisk or stick blender, drizzle in olive oil to emulsify.
FINISH
- Stir dressing into orzo pasta.
- Skim ice cubes out of asparagus bowl. Then drain asparagus in strainer (same one used for the pasta).
- Add asparagus to pasta; stir.
- Serve warm or cold as a side dish or pasta salad. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Serving: 1cup | Calories: 264kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 2mg | Sodium: 493mg | Potassium: 294mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 578IU | Vitamin C: 14mg | Calcium: 40mg | Iron: 2mg