Easy Orzo with Broccoli

Top view of orzo with broccoli in a white serving dish with a gold serving spoon.

15 minutes

Course dinner, Side Dish

Cuisine American, Italian

Diet Vegetarian

Prep Time 3

Cook Time 7

Set after mixing, before serving 5

Total Time 15

Servings three-quarters cup servings

Calories 125kcal

Author Kristi

Equipment

1 Saucepan 2.5 quart

Ingredients

1 cup orzo
2 ½ tablespoons Everything Bagel Seasoning sometimes called 'Everything but the Bagel' Seasoning
2 cups Broccoli florets
⅓ cup parmesan cheese grated cheese

Instructions

Bring about 4 to 6 cups of water to a boil.
While water is heating up, rinse broccoli florets and cut them to the size you like.
Once water is boiling, add orzo, stir and continue to boil over medium-high heat for 4 minutes.
Add washed broccoli florets to the orzo in boiling water. Stir and continue to cook for another 3 minutes.
Carefully remove about one-half cup of pasta water and set it aside. I use a glass measuring cup to do this.
If the orzo is al dente (tender to touch) but not soggy, remove from heat and strain the water out.
Return orzo and broccoli to the saucepan. Reduce heat to low. Stir in the reserved pasta water, seasoning, and parmesan cheese. Let sit on low heat for about 3-5 minutes, or until the pasta water has been absorbed.
Remove from heat. Serve and enjoy!

Notes

**Nutrition Facts are estimated using a database that this owner is not responsible for maintaining. Exact nutrition information will depend on actual ingredients and amounts used when making this recipe.

For example, there are so many brands that make Everything Bagel Seasoning and they all have varying amounts of sodium. I use Organic Everything Bagel Seasoning by Noble Made that has 55mg per one-quarter teaspoon serving size.

If you forget to reserve some of the pasta water, use chicken broth, vegetable broth or vegetable stock instead.

Regular and whole wheat orzo will have different cook times. Be sure to read the instructions on how to get the orzo you are using to al dene.

Do not add oil to the boiling water.

Add the broccoli florets only for the last 2-3 minutes of cooking so they don't overcook.

If you happen to have leftover cooked broccoli, stir some in at the end instead of using up fresh broccoli florets.

Nutrition