Buttery Carrot Orzo with Parmesan and Rosemary
Inspired by techniques from Bon Appétit.
Orzo is toasted in butter alongside finely chopped carrots until golden, then simmered in water and broth until the pasta turns creamy and tender. A finish of Parmesan, spring onion and rosemary turns this simple one-pot pasta into a savoury side that eats almost like a risotto.
Always check the labels of the products you use.
Method
- 1
Chop the carrots. Pulse the peeled baby carrots in a food processor, using on/off bursts, until finely chopped.
- 2
Toast the orzo. Melt the butter in a heavy medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the orzo and chopped carrots and cook, stirring often, until the orzo turns pale golden, about 5 minutes.
- 3
Simmer until absorbed. Pour in the water and broth and stir in the garlic. Cook uncovered over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the liquid is fully absorbed and the orzo is tender, about 10 minutes.
- 4
Finish and serve. Off the heat, stir in the Parmesan, spring onions and rosemary. Season to taste with the salt and pepper and serve right away.
Storage
Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 3 days; reheat gently in a pan with a splash of water or broth. Cool leftovers in a shallow container and refrigerate within 2 hours (within 1 hour on a day above 32°C).
EU nutrition claims
- Source of protein: 3.7 g protein per 100 kcal, about 15% of energy (needs ≥ 12%)
- Low sugars: 2.4 g sugars per 100 g (limit ≤ 5 g)
Per 100 g of the finished dish, worked out from the nutrition per serving and the lowest likely cooked weight (about 154 g a serving), so the true values are, if anything, lower. Thresholds from the Annex to EU Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006. How we decide
Free sugars
0 g per serving
0 % of the 50 g daily maximum · 0 % of the ideal 25 g
Free sugars under 50 g a day, ideally about 25 g, based on WHO free-sugar guidance (not endorsed by WHO). The share shown is the share of one serving. WHO
Equipment
- food processor
- chef's knife
- chopping board
- heavy medium saucepan with lid
- wooden spoon
- fine grater
Nutrition per serving (estimated values)
| Per serving | Amount |
|---|---|
| Energy | 313 kcal |
| Protein | 11.5 g |
| Carbohydrate | 47.1 g |
| of which sugars | 3.7 g |
| of which free sugars | 0 g |
| Fat | 8.6 g |
| of which saturates | 4.8 g |
| Fibre | 3.1 g |
| Salt | 0.7 g |
Protein per 100 kcal
3.7 g High Protein needs ≥ 5 g (20% of energy)
Calculated from USDA FoodData Central ingredient values
