Description
Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Orzo is a quick and easy Italian-inspired dish featuring tender orzo pasta cooked to perfection with sautéed garlic, flavorful sun-dried tomatoes, and rich Parmesan cheese. This creamy side or light main offers a restaurant-quality taste with minimal effort, perfect for weeknight dinners or elegant gatherings.
Ingredients
Ingredients
- 1 cup orzo pasta
- 2 cups broth (vegetable or chicken)
- ¼ cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1 clove garlic, minced
Instructions
- Sauté Garlic and Tomatoes: In a medium skillet over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the minced garlic and chopped sun-dried tomatoes, sautéing for 1 to 2 minutes until fragrant and the tomatoes begin to soften.
- Cook Orzo: Add the orzo pasta to the skillet and stir it with the garlic and tomatoes to coat. Pour in 2 cups of broth, bring the mixture to a simmer, then reduce the heat and cook gently, stirring occasionally, until the orzo is tender and most of the liquid is absorbed, about 12 to 15 minutes.
- Finish with Parmesan: Remove the skillet from heat and stir in the grated Parmesan cheese thoroughly until the orzo mixture becomes creamy and well combined.
Notes
- For added nutrition and flavor, stir in fresh spinach leaves during the last few minutes of cooking until wilted.
- Add grilled chicken or shrimp on top for a complete protein-packed main dish.
- Use vegetable broth to keep this recipe vegetarian; chicken broth adds deeper flavor if preferred.
- Adjust the amount of Parmesan to taste for a richer or lighter creaminess.
- Sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil can be drained but add extra flavor if included as is.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner / Side
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
