Orzo Primavera Italian Pasta (Printable)
Italian orzo pasta with fresh spring vegetables in a creamy lemon Parmesan sauce
# What You Need:
→ Pasta
01 - 8 oz orzo pasta
02 - 6 cups water
03 - 1 tsp salt
→ Vegetables
04 - 1 small zucchini, diced
05 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
06 - 1 yellow bell pepper, diced
07 - 1 cup asparagus, cut into 3/4-inch pieces
08 - 1 cup fresh or frozen peas
→ Aromatics & Sauce
09 - 2 tbsp olive oil
10 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
11 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
12 - Zest of 1 lemon
13 - 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
14 - Salt and black pepper, to taste
15 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh basil
16 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
# How To Make It:
01 - Bring 6 cups water and 1 tsp salt to a boil in a large pot. Add orzo and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup cooking water, and set aside.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Add zucchini, cherry tomatoes, yellow bell pepper, asparagus, and peas to the skillet. Sauté for 4-5 minutes until vegetables are tender-crisp.
04 - Add drained orzo to the skillet with vegetables. Pour in reserved pasta water, Parmesan, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Toss until well combined and creamy.
05 - Season with salt and black pepper to taste. Remove from heat and stir in fresh basil and parsley.
06 - Serve hot, topped with additional Parmesan and fresh herbs if desired.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The lemon and Parmesan sauce creates this incredible velvety texture without any heavy cream
- You can swap in whatever vegetables look best at the market, making it infinitely adaptable
02 -
- That reserved pasta water is liquid gold, the starch in it helps the Parmesan emulsify into a silky sauce
- Add the lemon zest and juice off the heat, or the bright flavors will cook out and lose their punch
03 -
- Grate your Parmesan fresh from a block instead of using pre-grated cheese, the texture and melting quality are completely different
- Keep the vegetables in uniform sizes so they cook evenly and every bite has the same texture