Description
Creamy Lemon Orzo is a quick and comforting dish featuring tender orzo pasta enveloped in a luscious lemon cream sauce, perfectly balanced with fresh citrus brightness, creamy texture, and savory parmesan cheese.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup orzo pasta
- Salt (for boiling water, to taste)
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream or Greek yogurt
- Zest of 1 lemon
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley or basil, chopped (about 2 tablespoons)
- Additional lemon zest, for garnish (optional)
- Additional Parmesan cheese, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook the orzo until just tender, about 8-10 minutes. Drain well and set aside while preparing the sauce.
- In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté gently until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes, making sure it does not brown.
- Slowly whisk in the heavy cream followed by the fresh lemon juice and lemon zest. Allow the mixture to simmer gently over low heat for 3-5 minutes until it thickens slightly.
- Stir the cooked orzo into the lemon cream sauce, ensuring every grain is fully coated with the glossy, tangy sauce.
- Remove the skillet from heat and fold in the grated Parmesan cheese and freshly chopped herbs. Season with salt and pepper to taste before serving.
Notes
- Serve as a main or side dish.
- Adjust lemon juice for desired tartness.
- Garnish with extra herbs for added flavor.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Pasta
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 9g
- Cholesterol: 60mg
Keywords: Creamy Lemon Orzo, Orzo Pasta, Lemon Sauce