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Easy Zucchini Orzo with Basil
This creamy zucchini orzo is a fun risotto-like pasta dish that can be served as either an entree or a side. Plenty of grated zucchini is cooked down until jammy and tossed with orzo, Parmigiano and basil for a luscious, comforting bite. It’s a fast and weeknight-friendly meal that’s great for summer when zucchini is plentiful!
👥 4 Servings⏱️ Prep & Cook: 30 min⏳ Prep: 10 min🔥 Cook: 20 min👤 Nicole Gaffney📖 coleycooks
🥘 Ingredients
Check off ingredients as you prepare them:
🍳 Cookware
- pot
- pan
- bowl
📝 Preparation Steps
1
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
2
Place a pan over medium heat and add the olive oil and garlic. Cook for about ⏱️ 1 minute, just until fragrant, then add the zucchini along with a good pinch of salt and pepper.
zucchini (medium , about 1 ½ lbs, coarsely grated)2
3
Sauté for ⏱️ 8-10 minutes, stirring often, until the zucchini cooks down, releases its water, and becomes soft and concentrated in flavor.
zucchini (medium , about 1 ½ lbs, coarsely grated)2
4
Cook the orzo in the boiling water until just shy of al dente according to package directions. Reserve 1 cup of pasta cooking water, then drain.
5
Add the drained orzo back to the large pot with the zucchini. Add a splash of the reserved pasta water and stir vigorously, until it reaches a light, creamy consistency, about a minute.
zucchini (medium , about 1 ½ lbs, coarsely grated)2
6
Remove from the heat, then stir in the cheese, lemon zest, and plenty of black pepper, mixing vigorously.
lemon zest (freshly grated )1 teaspoonblack pepper (freshly cracked )
7
Add the basil, then taste and adjust with more salt, pepper or lemon zest. Then, stir in an extra splash of pasta water to achieve a nice consistency.
lemon zest (freshly grated )1 teaspoon
8
Spoon into bowls, drizzle with a little bit of olive oil, then serve with extra cheese, basil and black pepper on top.
black pepper (freshly cracked )
Nutrition Facts
calories
554 kcal
fat Content
22 g
serving Size
1 serving
fiber Content
4 g
sugar Content
5 g
sodium Content
414 mg
protein Content
22 g
cholesterol Content
17 mg
carbohydrate Content
68 g
saturated Fat Content
6 g
unsaturated Fat Content
14 g
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