Description
This delightful Garlic Butter Asparagus Orzo is a flavorful and easy-to-make dish that combines tender orzo pasta with crisp asparagus, tossed in a garlic butter sauce and finished with Parmesan, lemon, and fresh herbs.
Ingredients
Orzo Pasta:
1 cup orzo pasta
Garlic Butter Sauce:
1 tablespoon olive oil, 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, 3 cloves garlic (minced)
Asparagus:
1 bunch asparagus (trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces)
Seasonings:
½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Finishing Touches:
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 teaspoon lemon zest, 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (optional)
Instructions
- Cook Orzo and Asparagus: Boil salted water, add orzo, and cook until al dente. In the last 2 minutes, add asparagus. Drain and set aside.
- Prepare Garlic Butter Sauce: Melt olive oil and butter in a skillet. Sauté garlic until fragrant.
- Combine Ingredients: Add drained orzo and asparagus to the skillet. Mix in salt, pepper, Parmesan, lemon juice, and zest.
- Finish and Serve: Cook briefly until heated through. Garnish with parsley before serving.
Notes
- For added protein, top with grilled chicken or shrimp.
- This dish can be enjoyed warm or chilled as a pasta salad.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mediterranean-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 300mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 34g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 9g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
