Creamy Orzo with Balsamic Glazed Mushrooms
2020-01-21 12:40:20
Serves 6
Created and tested by Darlene Zimmerman, MS, RD, for Heart Smart®.
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Prep Time
10 min
Total Time
35 min
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size
0g
Servings
6
Amount Per Serving
Calories 0
Calories from Fat 0
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 0g
0%
Saturated Fat 0g
0%
Trans Fat 0g
Polyunsaturated Fat 0g
Monounsaturated Fat 0g
Cholesterol 0mg
0%
Sodium 0mg
0%
Total Carbohydrates 0g
0%
Dietary Fiber 0g
0%
Sugars 0g
Protein 0g
Vitamin A
0%
Vitamin C
0%
Calcium
0%
Iron
0%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your Daily Values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Ingredients
- 8 ounces white button mushrooms
- Vegetable oil cooking spray
- ½ tablespoon olive oil
- ¾ cup diced onion
- 2 cloves garlic, peeled, minced
- ½ cup (4 ounces) dry orzo
- 2½ cups 1% milk
- 1½ cups water
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ⅜ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon balsamic glaze
- 1 to 2 tablespoons snipped fresh chives or parsley
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
- Slice cleaned mushrooms and place on a baking sheet. Spray mushrooms with cooking spray, toss to coat and arrange in a single layer. Roast, stirring half way through, for about 15 minutes or until the moisture has evaporated and mushrooms begin to brown.
- To prepare orzo, heat olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat and sauté onion and garlic until onion softens, about 3 to 4 minutes. Add orzo and continue cooking 1 to 2 minutes. Add milk and water and bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook, stirring often, until orzo is al dente, about 5 to 8 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in cheese, salt, and pepper. Place orzo in a serving dish. Drizzle roasted mushrooms with balsamic glaze and place on top of orzo. Garnish with chives or parsley and serve.
Notes
- Orzo, which means barley in Italian, is a tiny, rice-shaped pasta, slightly smaller than a pine nut. This petite pasta has a great texture, cooks quickly, and is a wonderful addition to soups and salads.
- Orzo is also a perfect substitute for rice, which is how we used it in today’s recipe.
- Our creamy orzo is very similar to risotto, a dish made with a short-grain rice called Arborio. Risotto recipes typically call for toasting, or slightly browning the rice before adding any liquid. This step adds a nice richness and nutty flavor to the dish, and we did the same with the orzo in our recipe.
- Whole-wheat orzo can be used in this recipe, but it can be difficult to find and is a bit more costly. If you use whole-wheat orzo, additional milk and water will likely be needed.
- Roasted, balsamic-glazed mushrooms are the perfect complement to our creamy orzo. Mushrooms are not often thought of as nutritional powerhouses because they lack the bright, vibrant colors of other vegetables.
- Truth be told, mushrooms supply several key nutrients including the B vitamins niacin, riboflavin, folate and B6, as well as iron, potassium, and selenium. And, if they are exposed to ultraviolet light just before or after harvesting, mushrooms provide a nice dose of vitamin D.
- When selecting mushrooms, make sure they’re firm, clean and well shaped. While some brown flecks on the surface are okay, avoid mushrooms with dark-tinged areas. Also, look for mushrooms with closed veils. This is the area where the cap meets the stem. Wide-open veils are signs of aging.
- Before using, wipe mushrooms with a clean damp paper towel or, if necessary, rinse with cold water and dry thoroughly. Mushrooms soaked in water will become mushy.
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