This creamy orzo pasta is a type of cozy recipes you’ll return to while you’re craving a simple, creamy pasta dish that’ll be prepared in underneath an hour. The true great thing about this recipe is that we mix cottage cheese with garlicky sautéed tomatoes to make a creamy sauce that’s out-of-this-world-DELICIOUS.
Whether or not you want a brand new recipe for busy weeknights or particular events or are simply plain hungry, this orzo pasta is certain to fulfill. What makes this orzo pasta recipe distinctive? It’s a veggie-forward pasta recipe made with bursting cherry tomatoes and zucchini. Oh, and we creamed it with whipped cottage cheese for further protein!
The complete staff severely cherished this pasta a lot. We had enjoyable filming the video too and all went again for seconds it’s so scrumptious.
What’s In Creamy Orzo Pasta
- Cherry tomatoes: these candy, juicy tomatoes add a burst of taste and shade to the dish. They pair completely with the creamy sauce and add a pleasant texture.
- Cottage cheese: when blended with garlic and tomatoes, it creates a wealthy, creamy marinara sauce with out the added energy from heavy cream.
- Tomato paste: this will get instantly blended with the orzo, so that you’ll wish to make certain it’s evenly distributed. It provides a deeper tomato taste and helps thicken the sauce.
- Orzo pasta: this small rice-shaped pasta is ideal for absorbing all of the scrumptious flavors within the dish.
- Zucchini: we love the best way chunks of zucchini add a little bit of crunch and contemporary taste to the creamy pasta.
- Recent basil: this herb offers the recipe its signature Italian style. We suggest utilizing contemporary basil.
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Forged Iron Pan
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Variations and Substitutions
This tomato orzo recipe is sort of a clean canvas that you would be able to customise to your liking.
- Swap the cheese: As an illustration, if you happen to’d relatively use cream cheese or ricotta cheese as an alternative of cottage cheese, go for it! Simply observe that the feel and taste will barely differ. It’s also possible to add or swap greens like bell peppers, spinach, or mushrooms for further taste.
- Make it vegetarian: If you wish to make this dish vegetarian, merely use vegetable broth as an alternative of hen broth. Quite the opposite, if you wish to add some protein, strive including cooked hen or shrimp to the dish to make it a whole entree.
- Herb it up: Lastly, if you happen to’re not a fan of basil, be at liberty to experiment with different herbs like rosemary or thyme. You possibly can additionally add them along with basil for a extra herb-forward dish. Something is truthful recreation, actually!
Suggestions for Creamy Orzo Pasta
- To make this recipe even faster, you should use pre-cooked orzo. Simply you’ll want to cut back the cooking time accordingly.
- Don’t skip the step of mixing the cottage cheese, garlic, and tomatoes. That is what offers the dish its creamy texture.
- While you mix in step #3, make sure you mix the sauce till it’s gentle and virtually frothy. That may be certain that it doesn’t curdle.
Storage + Freezer Instructions
Retailer any leftover creamy orzo pasta in an hermetic container and retailer it within the fridge for as much as 3 days.
We don’t suggest freezing this recipe, as it’s cream-based and gained’t hold its similar texture or taste.
Serving Ideas
This creamy orzo pasta with blended cottage cheese would pair properly with meat dishes like our Seared Beef Tenderloin Roast, Forged Iron Steak, or Simple Complete Roasted Hen.
To stability out the savory flavors, add this Apple Burrata Salad or Arugula Salad on the facet.
Components
- 3 tablespoons olive oil divided
- ¼ white onion minced
- 5 cloves garlic minced
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes halved
- 1 cup 2% or entire fats cottage cheese
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt separated
- ½ teaspoon floor black pepper
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1.25 cups orzo pasta
- 1 medium zucchini cubed (~2 cups)
- 1.5 cups hen broth
- ¼ cup thinly sliced contemporary basil
- Optionally available crimson pepper flakes
Directions
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Warmth 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a big skillet over medium warmth. When the oil turns into aromatic, add the onion and prepare dinner for 2-3 minutes, the onions ought to be translucent.
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Add the paprika, 1.5 teaspoons of the salt, and pepper. Stir to mix.
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Add the garlic and tomatoes and prepare dinner for one more 2-3 minutes.
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Switch the tomato combination to a blender. Add the cottage cheese and mix on excessive pace for 2-3 minutes. The sauce ought to be gentle and the cheese ought to be utterly blended. Put aside.
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Subsequent, add the remaining olive oil to the skillet. When the oil turns into aromatic add the tomato paste and prepare dinner for 1 minute.
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Add the orzo to the pan to toast for about 2 minutes.
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Add the zucchini, remaining salt, and hen broth to the skillet. Stir and produce to a boil. Place the lid on the highest and cut back the warmth to a simmer. Prepare dinner for 10-12 minutes. The orzo ought to be totally cooked and mushy.
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Take away from the warmth. Switch the cottage cheese sauce to the pan and stir to mix. Enable to sit down for five minutes earlier than serving.
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To serve add contemporary basil and crushed crimson pepper flakes.
Suggestions & Notes
- Make this dish vegetarian through the use of vegetable broth
- Rosemary or thyme could possibly be used on this recipe in place or along with the basil.
- While you mix in step #3 make sure you mix the sauce till it’s gentle and virtually frothy.
- That may be certain that it doesn’t curdle.
Vitamin information
Energy: 366kcal Carbohydrates: 46g Protein: 15g Fats: 14g Fiber: 3g Sugar: 8g
Images: photographs taken on this publish are by Ashley McGlaughlin from The Edible Perspective.
