Growing Chefs! Ontario Lemon Orzo With Asparagus

Lemon Orzo With Asparagus

One of the first vegetables enjoyed in Ontario after a long winter, asparagus is one of the most delicious signs of spring! This lemon orzo pasta recipe that can be eaten warm or cold as a great pasta salad for a picnic
Difficulty
Intermediate
Yield
Serves 6-8
Ingredients
For the dressing:1 large lemon, zested and juiced3 cloves garlic, minced1 teaspoon dried dill1/2 cup olive oil Salt to taste Pepper to taste For the orzo:1 pound asparagus, woody ends trimmed and cut into 3 cm pieces4 cups vegetable stock2 1/2 cups water1 teaspoon turmeric3 cups orzo pasta1/2 cup green onions, white and stalks, thinly sliced1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled Salt to taste
Equipment
Cutting boardParing knifeMeasuring cupsMeasuring spoonsWhiskMixing bowls of various sizesTasting spoonsDish towelMedium potStrainer

Get Organized!

Gather your mis en place; get together all of the equipment needed for the recipe and gather your ingredients.

Get Prepped!

Measure out the dried dill, olive oil, vegetable stock, water, turmeric, and orzo and set aside.

Slice the green onion thinly into rounds, using both the green and the white part of the onion, and discarding the root end.

Lemon Orzo step 1

With a rasp, zest the lemon. Cut in half, and squeeze out as much juice as possible, catching and discarding the weeds.

Remove the peel from the garlic, and grate with a rasp. Alternately you can mince the garlic finely with a chefā€™s knife.

Lemon Orzo step 4

Crumble the feta cheese into a bowl.

Lemon Orzo step 5

Clean the asparagus, remove the woody stems, and snap into one-inch pieces.

Get Cooking

In a pot of boiling water, cook asparagus until just tender, about 2 minutes. Rinse asparagus immediately in cool water to stop cooking.

Lemon Orzo step 8

Pour the vegetable stock and water in a large pot and bring to a boil. Add the salt and turmeric.

Lemon Orzo step 9

Add the orzo and cook with the water simmering gently until tenderā€Šā€”ā€Šabout 10 to 12 minutes.

If there is more than 1 cup of additional liquid in the pot drain orzo, but do not rinse it.

Place the hot orzo in a spacious, heat-resistant bowl and add the asparagus and green onions.

Lemon Orzo step 10

In a medium bowl, add the garlic for the dressing, along with the dill, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Whisk together well, and season with salt and pepper. Continue to whisk, and add the olive oil in a slow and steady stream to emulsify the dressing.

Lemon Orzo step 11

Pour the dressing onto the orza and mix together well. Top with crumbled feta.