Springing Forward: Orzo Vegetable Stir-Fry

 

Spring Special Highlight: Orzo Vegetable Stir-Fry

Happy Spring, everyone! 💖

While we are still about one week away from the official start of the beautiful Spring season, the annual leap forward in our clocks this weekend means that I am truly well into Spring mode at the moment...mentally, physically, and emotionally 😁❀✿❀. At the Food Raven kitchen, we are celebrating the highly anticipated commencement of this wonderfully bright and colorful season with this delicious and delightfully light Orzo Vegetable Stir Fry as our signature dish of the day today.

In my culinary multiverse, orzo is quintessentially the perfect substitute for rice and makes for a great choice whenever you develop that unmistakable craving for pasta but do not want to indulge in something quite heavy-handed. It is very easy to prepare and the fact that it can be enjoyed both hot and cold adds yet another highlight to it's already long list of positive attributes. To prepare this dish, first bring about 4 cups of water to a boil in a medium pot under high heat. Season the water generously with some salt and a dash of vegetable oil. Once it starts to bubble, pour in 1 whole packet of dry orzo pasta, lower the heat to medium-high, then let this cook for about 9 - 10 minutes. Be sure to save 2 cups of the pasta water and pour out the rest. 

In a large skillet, heat up 3 tablespoons of olive oil then pour in a blend of half-moon slices of red 1 small or medium-sized red onion and finely-diced ginger (1/2-inch) and garlic (2 cloves). Allow this to sauté for about 3 minutes before adding 2 diced tomatoes. Season with 1 teaspoon each of ground black pepper, smoked paprika, turmeric, cumin, and dried oregano. Add about 1 cup of pasta and 4 tablespoons of tomato-basil pasta sauce to the base mixture. Stir in 1 cup of garden peas and mix thoroughly then allow this cook down under medium heat for about 5 - 7 minutes. Finally, pour in the cooked orzo pasta and mix well to blend in with the base ingredients. Sprinkle about a handful of shredded cheddar or parmesan cheese over the pasta and let this cook for another 2 minutes before turning off the heat. Serve hot or at room temperature as a main dish on its own or with a stew for a wholesome and satisfying meal. Enjoy! 😍💝