Orzo Primavera

Total Time: 22 mins Preparation Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 12 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 7
• 3 quarts water
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups orzo pasta, uncooked
• 1 lb fresh asparagus, cut into 1 inch pieces
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 cup red bell pepper, chopped
• 1 teaspoon margarine or 1 teaspoon butter, melted
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 cup frozen peas, thawed
• 1/2 cup chicken broth or 1/2 cup vegetable broth
• 1 teaspoon fresh lemon rind, grated
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper, ground
• 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, freshly grated (optional)

Recipe

• 1 combine water and salt in a large dutch oven; bring to a boil.
• 2 add orzo and cook 5 minutes.
• 3 add asparagus and cook 4 more minutes.
• 4 drain and set aside in a large serving bowl.
• 5 cook garlic and bell pepper in margarine and oil in dutch oven over medium heat, stirring constantly, 1 minute or until crisp-tender.
• 6 keep stirring, and add peas; cook another minute. add broth, lemon rind, and pepper; bring to a boil and cook one minute.
• 7 add vegetable mixture to orzo and asparagus; toss and top with parmesan cheese.