Asparagus Meatball Orzo Recipes

PARMESAN MEATBALLS IN MOZZARELLA BASIL CREAM SAUCE

Steps:

• Parmesan Meatballs: Preheat oven to 350F degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil (for easy cleanup). Add all of the Parmesan Meatball ingredients to a large bowl and mix until evenly combined. Form meatballs into heaping 1 tablespoon balls (approximately 40 meatballs).
• Lightly coat the bottom of a large nonstick skillet with olive oil and heat to medium high heat. Brown meatballs on all sides (I did mine in two batches), drain on paper towels then line on prepared baking sheet. Bake for 10 -15 minute or until cooked through.***
• Meanwhile, cook orzo pasta in generously salted water.
• Mozzarella Basil Cream Sauce: Whisk cornstarch with milk, set aside.
• Melt butter in olive oil over medium-low heat in a large skillet. Add shallots and garlic and sauté for 60 seconds. Sprinkle in flour and cook while stirring for 3 minutes then turn heat to low. Slowly whisk in chicken broth, then mil (with cornstarch), then heavy cream, stirring constantly until smooth. Turn heat to medium high and bring the sauce to a simmer while stirring constantly. Stir in Dijon and dry spices and continue to simmer until almost thickened, stirring occasionally. Add peas and continue to simmer until thickened and peas are cooked through.
• Reduce heat to low and stir in Parmesan cheese until melted, followed by mozzarella cheese until melted. Stir in fresh basil and fresh parsley, followed by orzo and meatballs, adding additional milk if necessary to reach desired consistency. Taste and season with additional salt, pepper and/or red pepper flakes to taste.
• Garnish with freshly grated Parmesan Cheese, and fresh parsley/basil and lemon (optional).

LEMONY ORZO WITH ASPARAGUS AND GARLIC BREAD CRUMBS

Steps:

• Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil. Add the orzo and cook until al dente according to package directions. Two minutes before the orzo is done, add the asparagus. Drain the orzo and asparagus. Wipe out and reserve the pot.
• While the orzo and asparagus cook, make the dressing: In a large bowl, stir together 3 tablespoons oil and the lemon zest and juice; season to taste with salt and pepper. Add the drained orzo and asparagus and toss to coat. Set aside while you toast the bread crumbs.
• In the reserved pot, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons oil over medium. Add the panko and cook, stirring, until golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat, then stir in the garlic and season with salt and pepper.
• Stir the Parmesan and herbs into the orzo, taste, then season with salt, pepper and additional lemon juice, if desired. Top with the toasted bread crumbs and more Parmesan if you like. Serve warm or at room temperature.

ITALIAN WEDDING SOUP WITH ORZO AND MEATBALLS

Steps:

• For the meatballs, combine beef, pork, bread crumbs, parsley, Parmesan, garlic, oregano, salt, pepper, egg, nutmeg, and paprika in a large bowl and use your hands to mix well.
• Use a teaspoon to measure out meat for even sized meatballs.
• With damp hands, shape them into 1-inch balls and transfer them to a large plate.
• Cover and refrigerate until ready to cook.
• For the soup, melt butter in a large soup pot over medium heat.
• Add onion, carrots, garlic, salt and pepper and cook until translucent and fragrant, about 4 minutes.
• Stir in broth, tomatoes, and 2 cups water.
• Cover and cook 10 minutes over medium heat or until soup comes to a boil.
• Add meatballs and orzo to the boiling soup and stir to make sure they are fully submerged.
• Cover and simmer until the meatballs and orzo are fully cooked, about 15 minutes over medium heat.
• Stir in kale and cook just until wilted, about 3 minutes.

PARMESAN ORZO AND MEATBALLS

Steps:

• In 12-inch nonstick skillet, cook stir-fry vegetables and dressing over medium-high heat 2 minutes. Stir in broth; heat to boiling. Stir in pasta and meatballs. Heat to boiling; reduce heat to low. Cover; cook 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Stir in tomato. Cover; cook 3 to 5 minutes or until most of the liquid has been absorbed and pasta is tender. Stir in parsley. Sprinkle with cheese.

ORZO AND SHRIMP SALAD WITH ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Peel shrimp, reserving the shells. In a skillet over medium heat, cook the garlic and shrimp in 2 tablespoons of olive oil, stirring frequently to keep the garlic from browning. When shrimp are cooked through, remove from heat, cool and cut into 1/2-inch pieces.
• Bring water to a boil in a Dutch oven over high heat. Add shrimp shells, boil for 5 minutes, then strain out shells and discard. Stir in the orzo and cook for 5 minutes. Stir in the asparagus pieces and continue cooking until the pasta is al dente, about 4 minutes. Drain into a mesh sieve, and rinse in cold water.
• Toss pasta and asparagus with 2 tablespoons of olive oil, shrimp, and green onions until evenly coated. In a separate bowl, whisk the vinegar, lemon juice, mustard, and basil until incorporated. Pour over pasta mixture and toss well; season to taste with salt and pepper. Chill for 2 hours.

CREAMY ORZO WITH ASPARAGUS AND PARMESAN

Steps:

• Bring a large sauce pan of water (filled about halfway) to a boil over medium heat. Cook the orzo until tender, about 10 minutes. After the orzo has been cooking for about 5 minutes, add the asparagus to the same pot (this will allow the orzo and asparagus to cook in the same pot and keep the clean-up to a minimum!). Once the orzo and asaparagus are cooked and tender, drain and return to the pot. Quickly add the parmesan cheese and butter. Stir thoroughly, allowing both the cheese and butter to melt. Slowly add the cream to the mixture, while stirring. Continue to stir and add cream until you reach your desired consistency. Season with salt and pepper. Voila! You have a delicious side dish! Serve immediately.

BROTHY ORZO AND PORK MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Grate onion; squeeze out excess liquid. Transfer to a bowl (you should have 1/2 cup onion). Add pork, egg, fennel seeds, cheese, and 1/2 teaspoon salt; stir until just combined (do not overmix). With dampened hands, roll mixture into 24 balls, each about 1 1/2 inches in diameter.
• In a medium pot, bring broth and 1 cup water to a boil. Add orzo; cook 5 minutes. Add meatballs, reduce heat to low, cover, and cook, stirring once, until cooked through, 6 to 7 minutes more. Stir in lemon juice; season to taste. Serve with a drizzle of oil, more cheese, pepper, dill, and lemon wedges.

MEATBALLS WITH ORZO

Steps:

• 1. Line a large baking sheet with cling film, then put all the ingredients for the meatballs into a large bowl and mix together, gently, with your hands. Don't overmix, as it will make the meatballs dense-textured and heavy. 2. Pinch out pieces of this mixture and roll between the palms of your hand to form meatballs that are somewhere between a cherry tomato and a walnut in size, putting them on your lined tray as you go. You should get about 30 meatballs. 3. Fill a measuring jug with 1 litre of cold water and put near the hob. 4. Heat the oil in a heavy-based casserole or pan that comes with a lid and is large enough to take the meatballs and pasta, too. Cook the chopped onion over a medium heat, stirring every now and again, for about 10 minutes, or until completely softened, then stir in the parsley and oregano and cook, stirring for a minute or so before adding the vermouth. Let this bubble up for a minute and then tip in the tomatoes. Half-fill the empty tins with water from the jug you have at the ready, give them a good swill, and pour into the pan, along with the rest of the water and the salt. Bring to the boil, turn the heat down, clamp on the lid and leave to simmer gently for 10 minutes. 5. Uncover the pan and drop the meatballs gently into the simmering sauce. I try to let these fall in concentric circles, working around the pan from the outside edge inwards, but this is more habit than necessity. Bring it back up to the boil, then turn the heat down again, put the lid back on and simmer the meatballs for 20 minutes. Remove the lid, tip in the orzo, stir gently and turn up the heat to bring back to a bubble. Cook at a robust simmer for 10-15 minutes, or until the pasta is cooked. You will have to give the odd gentle stir throughout this time to make sure the orzo isn't sticking to the bottom of the pan. 6. Serve in shallow bowls, sprinkled with parsley, and with Parmesan on the table alongside.