Orzo with Onions, Garlic and Peppers

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Orzo with Onions, Garlic and Peppers is an easy 20-minute side dish. Orzo pasta, bell peppers, and toasted pine nuts combine for this dish that’s perfect hot, warm or even cold

THIS POST AND RECIPE CARD WERE UPDATED JUNE 18, 2019

I have WAY too many boxes of pasta in my pantry…because whenever I’m at a specialty store and find fun new pasta shapes, I have to buy a box. And because of that, some boxes end up way in the back, out of sight and out of mind.

That’s definitely the case with orzo, so I really don’t eat it very often. When you first look at orzo, you might think it’s a type of rice. However, it is just a rice-shaped pasta.

My only other orzo recipe on the blog is Peppery Parmesan Grilled Chicken Orzo. I’m always on the lookout for easy and delicious side dishes, and I found the perfect one with Orzo with Onions, Garlic & Peppers

WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS

• A simple side dish that’s ready in under 20 minutes
• It is delicious hot, room temperature or even cold
• You can eat it as a side dish or a light meal

I’m a huge fan of Orzo with Onions, Garlic, and Peppers. It’s such a simple dish, yet loaded with flavor. It pairs well with all kinds of proteins and is great as leftovers.

INGREDIENT TIPS FOR ORZO WITH ONIONS, GARLIC AND PEPPERS

I use regular Orzo, but you could certainly use whole wheat or even a combination of both.

Toast the Pine Nuts in a dry skillet first, to release the natural oils. Make sure to keep an eye on them…they take a few minutes to toast, and then go from golden to burnt in no time.

Use real butter. It has more flavor and melts more evenly than margarine or imitation butter. And a little bit goes a long way

Use a wine that you like to drink! If not, you’ll end up with a dish that you don’t like. The alcohol cooks out, leaving just gorgeous flavor.

I saute the onion and garlic in the butter for a wonderful base flavor. And then I add salt, pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder with the bell peppers. That extra kick of onion and garlic flavor makes a big difference

The more colors of bell peppers, the better. I always have red, yellow and green bell peppers in the fridge. If you have orange, throw those in there as well!

STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS

Cook the orzo according to the box directions

In a dry skillet over medium-low heat, toast the pine nuts. Watch carefully, as they will be done in about 2 minutes. Remove pine nuts and set aside

Melt butter in the same skillet. Add onion and saute for 4 minutes, until golden. Next, add garlic and saute for 1 minute. Add wine and cook for 3 minutes

Turn heat to medium, and add bell peppers to the skillet and cook for about 3 minutes. Season with salt, pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder. Saute for another 3-4 minutes, tossing occasionally.

Drain pasta, add to the skillet, and toss with bell pepper mixture. 

Add pine nuts and stir to combine.

Garnish with parsley, and serve

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Do I have to use wine? I highly recommend it, because it adds so much wonderful flavor. If you absolutely don’t want to use wine, then you could substitute vegetable broth.

Can I use other vegetables? Absolutely! Mix in your favorite vegetables to make it a heartier dish.

What’s the best type of wine to use? I use Sauvignon blanc, and I recommend a dry white wine. If you prefer a chardonnay or another sweeter option, feel free to do so.

How long will Orzo with Onions, Garlic and Peppers last? In an airtight container in the fridge, it will last at least one week.

How far ahead can I make this dish? You could definitely make this 1-2 days ahead, and then just fluff it lightly with a fork before serving.

What is the best way to serve Orzo with Onions, Garlic and Peppers? You have lots of options! It’s delicious hot, room temperature or even as a cold salad. You can also enjoy it as a side dish or on its own as a light vegetarian meal.

MORE DELICIOUS PASTA RECIPES

• Funfetti Macaroni Salad
• Baked Homemade Mac and Cheese
• Spinach Alfredo Lasagna Roll-Ups
• One Pot Taco Spaghetti
• Italian Sausage Bell Pepper Pasta
• Tuna Tettrazini

MORE COOKING WITH WINE RECIPES

• Clams & Mussels with Garlic Butter Wine Sauce
• Red Wine Garlic Mushrooms
• Spicy Garlic Shrimp Pasta
• Easy Homemade Marinara Sauce
• Easy Shrimp Scampi

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