Description
Garlic butter asparagus orzo delivers a Mediterranean-inspired pasta dream that blends creamy textures with herbal elegance. Delicate asparagus and rich garlic butter create a simple yet sophisticated dinner you’ll savor with each delightful forkful.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (240 ml) orzo pasta
- 1 bunch asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
- 2 tbsps unsalted butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ¼ cup (30 g) grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- Zest of 1 lemon
- Juice of ½ lemon
- 2 tbsps chopped fresh parsley (optional)
Instructions
- Orzo Preparation: Bring a generously salted water pot to rolling boil and cook orzo until perfectly tender, following package timeline. Drain and reserve.
- Asparagus Transformation: In a spacious skillet, melt butter with olive oil over medium flame. Introduce asparagus, seasoning with salt and pepper, sautéing until vibrant green and crisp-tender. Incorporate minced garlic, allowing aromatics to bloom for a brief moment.
- Harmonious Fusion: Merge cooked orzo into the skillet, introducing remaining butter, bright lemon zest, and tangy lemon juice. Gently toss until ingredients are elegantly coated and butter dissolves completely.
- Cheese Elevation: Fold in freshly grated Parmesan, creating a luxurious and creamy texture. Taste and refine seasoning as necessary, ensuring balanced flavor profile.
- Culinary Presentation: Garnish with delicate chopped parsley and an additional Parmesan dusting. Serve immediately while temperature and flavors remain pristine.
Notes
- Cook orzo exactly to package instructions to avoid mushy or hard pasta, ensuring perfect al dente consistency.
- Sauté asparagus quickly over medium heat to maintain tender-crisp texture, preventing overcooking and preserving vibrant green color.
- Add butter gradually and melt completely to distribute rich, smooth flavor evenly throughout the dish without creating greasy patches.
- Incorporate Parmesan off heat to prevent separation, allowing residual warmth to gently melt cheese and create creamy, cohesive sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch, Snacks
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 8g
- Cholesterol: 15mg