Description
Enjoy this Mediterranean veggie orzo that tastes like summer on a plate – roasted to perfection and ready in just 40 minutes!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 medium zucchini (about 8 oz), diced into ½-inch pieces
- 1 medium yellow squash (about 8 oz), diced into ½-inch pieces
- 1 large red bell pepper, seeded and diced into ½-inch pieces
- 1 large yellow bell pepper, seeded and diced into ½-inch pieces
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 medium red onion, cut into ½-inch wedges
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1½ cups dry orzo pasta
- 3 cups vegetable broth or water
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- Juice of 1 lemon (about 2 tablespoons)
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh basil, thinly sliced
- ⅓ cup crumbled feta cheese (optional)
- ¼ cup pitted kalamata olives, halved (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C) and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, combine zucchini, yellow squash, bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, and red onion with 3 tablespoons olive oil, garlic, oregano, thyme, salt, and pepper.
- Spread vegetables in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet and roast for 25-30 minutes, stirring halfway through, until tender and browned.
- While vegetables roast, bring vegetable broth to a simmer in a medium saucepan.
- In another pot, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat, add orzo and toast for 2 minutes until lightly golden.
- Add hot broth to orzo, reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 10-12 minutes until tender and liquid is absorbed.
- Drizzle cooked orzo with remaining tablespoon of olive oil and lemon juice while still hot.
- Fold in roasted vegetables with any pan juices and let rest for 5 minutes.
- Just before serving, fold in fresh parsley, basil, and if using, feta cheese and olives.
- Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt, pepper, or lemon juice as needed.