Lemon Garlic Orzo with Roasted Vegetables

Lemon Garlic Orzo with Roasted Vegetables is packed with texture and flavor. A delicious and easy orzo pasta recipe served warm or chilled and makes fabulous leftovers or addition to a picnic. vegetarian + vegan option.

This orzo pasta recipe is a family favorite and comes together quickly after the chopping is done. While the veggies are roasting and pine nuts are toasting (hehe), the orzo is cooked and dressing is whipped up.

Ingredients :

For the Orzo and Veggies:

1/3 C Pine Nuts* (see note) 64g
1 1/2 C Crimini Mushrooms destemmed and sliced, 116g
1 C Mix of Red Yellow, or Orange Bell Peppers, deseeded and diced (I use baby bells), 126g
1 lb Asparagus (sub zucchini or eggplant when in season!) cut into 1" pieces with woody ends discarded, 426g
12 oz Cherry Tomatoes cut in 1/2, 340g
2 tsp Garlic minced, 6g
1/2 C Shallot chopped, 116g
3 Tbs Extra Virgin Olive Oil divided, 36g
1/2 tsp Sea Salt
1/2 tsp Black Pepper Ground
1 C Orzo 198g
1 1/2 C Vegetable Broth 354g
1/2 C Garlic and Herb Feta crumbled (Leave off for Vegan Option), 84g

For the Dressing:

2 Tbs Extra Virgin Olive Oil 24g
1 Tbs Lemon juiced, about 2
1/2 tsp Sea Salt
1/4 tsp Black Pepper ground

For the Garnish:

2-3 Tbs Chopped Fresh Basil
2-3 Tbs Chopped Fresh Parsley

Instructions :

Toast the Pine Nuts:

Preheat Oven to 350F (177C) and toast pine nuts for 6-7 minutes, or until toasty and fragrant. Set aside to cool.

Roast the Veggies:

Turn oven up to 425F (218C). Line two sheet pans with parchment paper. Place the mushrooms, bell peppers, asparagus, tomatoes, garlic and shallot on one pan. Sprinkle with 2 Tbs of olive oil. Using a spatula, mix all the veggies together with the olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper then stir again. Move 1/2 the veggie mixture to the other sheet pan. Spread the veggies in one layer, making sure there's no overlapping on both pans. Roast in 425F oven for 35-40 minutes (due to oven variations, keep an eye on your veggies and start checking your veggies at 25 minutes; a bit of charring is good!** SEE NOTES!!). Rotate pans 1/2 way through roasting.

Cook the Orzo:

In a large saute pan, heat 1 Tbs of Olive Oil on medium heat until shimmering. Add the orzo and stir, coating the orzo throughly. Stir occasionally for about 3 minutes or until the orzo is toasty and golden. Add the vegetable broth. Be careful here because the broth will spit and sputter. Bring to a simmer, turn down the heat to low, cover and cook for about 15 minutes or until all the liquid is absorbed. Stir. Remove from heat, cover and set aside.