• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • My Utensil Crock Logo
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Menu Ideas
  • Cooking Club
    • Cooking Club Themes
    • Cooking Club {Favorite Recipes}
  • Cooking Classes
  • eBook
    • Think Like a Lawyer, Blog Like a Pro
    • Legal Terms Bloggers Should Know
  • About
    • About Me
    • About the Ingredients
    • About the Pictures
    • About the Recipes
    • About My Utensil Crock {Tech + Legal}
  • Contact

My Utensil Crock

organizing my most useful kitchen tools

  • Recipes
  • Menu Ideas
  • Cooking Club
    • Cooking Club Themes
    • Cooking Club {Favorite Recipes}
  • Cooking Classes
  • eBook
    • Think Like a Lawyer, Blog Like a Pro
    • Legal Terms Bloggers Should Know
  • About
    • About Me
    • About the Ingredients
    • About the Pictures
    • About the Recipes
    • About My Utensil Crock {Tech + Legal}
  • Contact
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

03.29.2014

Lemon & Parmesan Orzo with Kale

Lemon and Parmesan Orzo with Kale-3Time for a confession.

As much as I love to cook, I usually have to follow a recipe. I can alter a bit here and there, adding a spice I like – oregano or cumin – or omitting something obvious like walnuts or chick peas, but generally, I need a set of ingredients and instructions in front of me to get started.

Luckily, making a dish out of ingredients on hand is not difficult with an internet search engine.  So when I found myself with half a bag of orzo (started before the recent quinoa kick) and half a bunch of kale, I was thrilled to find a recipe that highlighted these ingredients to serve as a guideline. And I usually have a bucket of grated parmesan cheese in the cheese drawer, and a lemon hanging around in my fruit bowl, so this recipe was a perfect fit.

Lemon and Parmesan Orzo with Kale-2I love the texture of orzo. Orzo and other pastas {yes, orzo is a pasta, despite the fact that it looks like large grains of rice} have kind of fallen by the wayside, with whole grains like quinoa, farro, and bulgur on the rise. But an occasional orzo dish now and then, especially with some dark leafy greens mixed in, won’t hurt. I never used to be a lemon person, but it is so versatile in cooking that I am coming around. It really brightens up this dish – give it a try!

Lemon and Parmesan Orzo with Kale

Lemon & Parmesan Orzo with Kale
 
Print
Author: myutensilcrock.com
Ingredients
  • ½ t ground turmeric
  • 1 c uncooked orzo pasta
  • 1 T extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic, sliced
  • ½ bunch lacinato (or more), sliced thin
  • juice of ½ lemon
  • sprinkle of ground nutmeg
  • grated Parmesan cheese
  • kosher salt and freshly-ground pepper
Instructions
  1. Fill a medium or large sized pot with water, and bring to a boil.
    {While the water is coming to a boil, start on the kale, below.}
  2. Sprinkle the turmeric over the boiling water, stir in the orzo and return to a boil.
  3. Cook uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the pasta has cooked through, but is still firm to the bite, about 10 minutes.
  4. Drain the orzo in a colander or strainer with small holes.
  5. Pour the drained orzo back into the pot. {You will add the kale and mix in this pot}
  6. To make the kale, heat a large skillet over medium heat. When it's hot, add the olive oil and heat the oil.
  7. Add the garlic slices in the hot oil for a few seconds until it begins to sizzle.
  8. Stir the kale into the garlic, cover the skillet with a lid, and cook for a few minutes until the kale gets tender. If it's too dry, add a bit of lemon juice, or a little more oil.
  9. Remove the cover and continue cooking until any extra moisture cooks out.
  10. Stir the kale and garlic into the orzo, and add the lemon juice, nutmeg, and Parmesan cheese. Season with salt and pepper.
  11. You can serve this dish warm, cold, or at room temperature. Sprinkle on some additional cheese before serving, if you would like.
3.2.2310

 

Lemon and Parmesan Orzo with Kale-5

Lemon and Parmesan Orzo with Kale-4

This would be a great pasta salad for a pot luck, or side dish for a BBQ (come ooooon, spring and summer!). Try mixing in some diced poached chicken to make this side dish a full meal.

Recipe adapted from: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/orzo-with-kale/

If you liked this post, I recommend:

  • One-Pot Stovetop Lasagna Ragu with Sweet Italian Chicken SausageOne-Pot Stovetop Lasagna Ragu with Sweet Italian Chicken Sausage
  • Spinach Parmesan CakesSpinach Parmesan Cakes
  • Spaghetti PieSpaghetti Pie
  • Good-Luck Healthy Cheesy Greens and FarroGood-Luck Healthy Cheesy Greens and Farro
  • Classic Spinach Artichoke DipClassic Spinach Artichoke Dip
  • Gnocchi with Spinach and Chicken Italian SausageGnocchi with Spinach and Chicken Italian Sausage
  • Print
  • Email
  • Tweet

Posted In: Great Sides, Recipe, Salads

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. laura V says

    09.21.2020 at 3:41 pm

    i just printed this recipe – its just what i was looking for !
    thanks

    Reply
    • my utensil crock says

      09.23.2020 at 10:19 am

      Excellent!

      Reply

Tell me what you think! Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

I love healthy food, but I love it more when it doesn’t taste like healthy food. Best of both worlds! Click around to find some of my tried and true staples - and new recipes too, whether my own ideas, inspired by other blogs, torn from the pages of a magazine, or passed through friends or family. Learn more about me and My Utensil Crock HERE.

– Chicken Noodle Soup
– Banana Cookies
– Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
– 20-minute Breakfast Platter
– Easy Homemade Meatballs

Join Me!

Follow My Utensil Crock

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
Buy Think Like a Lawyer NOW!

My Latest Pins

  • Ga’s Easy Blueberry Coffee Cake
  • Ga’s Easy Blueberry Coffee Cake
  • One-Pot Stovetop Lasagna Ragu with Sweet Italian Chicken Sausage
  • One-Pot Stovetop Lasagna Ragu with Sweet Italian Chicken Sausage
  • Ga’s Brownies
  • Ga’s Brownies
Follow Me on Pinterest

Footer Widget Header

Subscribe by email to receive posts, recipes, and tips straight to your inbox!

Footer

Connect with Me

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Search This Site

Archives

Whirlwind week in Miami for work (aren’t all wor Whirlwind week in Miami for work (aren’t all work trips whirlwinds?) but got to sneak in lunch at @casatuacucina before heading to the airport 👌🏻
🚨Fun night alert🚨 @uvalaw #uvalaw20threunion 🚨Fun night alert🚨 @uvalaw #uvalaw20threunion #firstgusburger
Gas station sandwiches. IYKYK. Gas station sandwiches. IYKYK.
20th @uvalaw reunion weekend begins! Cheers! 20th @uvalaw reunion weekend begins! Cheers!
Savory smoothies to shake things up. Savory smoothies to shake things up.
An afternoon tea ☕️ for cooking club this mont An afternoon tea ☕️ for cooking club this month
“23 hours in Dallas” @hardeightbbq “23 hours in Dallas” @hardeightbbq
Cakesicles and chocolate covered pretzels by @suga Cakesicles and chocolate covered pretzels by @sugarydreamsbymel - she can make anything you can think of. If you are within driving distance of Silver Spring, check it out. I was looking for something special for an engagement party I hosted and this was just what we needed ✨
Quick and dirty pic of made from scratch gumbo and Quick and dirty pic of made from scratch gumbo and dirty rice with bacon.
A rare crossover post with @housenotions - I fired A rare crossover post with @housenotions - I fired up the @bluestarcooking charbroiler today and grilled yogurt-marinated chicken breast. I slice them in half (thickness) to make sure they get the perfect ratio of char and are actually cooked inside.
Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2012 - 2020 · My Utensil Crock, LLC · Blog Design by Little Blue Deer
Privacy Policy

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.