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A plate piled with creamy orzo and topped with marinated tomatoes on top.
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5 from 6 votes

Creamy Orzo with Marinated Tomatoes

A pasta dish that is like mac 'n cheese all grown up. The richness does not come from fat but from the natural starches found in the orzo pasta
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time12 minutes
Total Time27 minutes
Course: light lunch, pasta dish - side
Cuisine: American-Italian
Servings: 6
Calories: 191kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 Tablespoon white wine vinegar
  • 1 Tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 teaspoon minced shallots
  • ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 2 cups halved grape tomatoes
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 2 Tablespoons thinly sliced fresh basil
  • 1 ¼ cups dry orzo pasta 8 oz.
  • 1 Tablespoon unsalted butter
  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • ½ cup milk

Instructions

  • For the tomatoes: Whisk together vinegar, oil, shallots, and Dijon and toss with tomatoes; season with salt and pepper. Add basil right before serving.
  • For the orzo: Cook orzo in a pot of boiling salted water according to package directions; drain.
  • Melt the butter in a large saute pan over medium heat. Whisk in cream and milk and cook until thickened, 2-3 minutes. Add cooked orzo and heat through, 1 minute. Season orzo with salt; serve with tomatoes and top with the sliced fresh basil.

Notes

TIPS:
  • Like any pasta, it’s best to cook this orzo al dente as it will continue to cook when added to the saucepan with the creamy sauce. 
  • Cooking the orzo in a larger shallow skillet or saucepan instead of a deep pan will allow the excess liquid to evaporate and cook the orzo evenly.
  • Stir the orzo frequently while it cooks to prevent it from sticking to the pan.
  • Season the pasta water for the best flavor. 
  • Remove tomatoes and omit any fresh basil topping if you intend to store leftovers in the freezer. 

Nutrition

Serving: 4g | Calories: 191kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 34mg | Sodium: 25mg | Potassium: 177mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 832IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 44mg | Iron: 1mg