Orzo with Roasted Vegetables

Show: Barefoot ContessaEpisode: Anniversary Dinner

Rated: 5 stars out of 5Rate itRead users' reviews (182)

RECIPE
COMMENTS & REVIEWS(182)

Cook Time:
40 min
Level:
Easy
Yield:
6 servings

Times:

Prep: 20 min
Inactive Prep: --
Cook: 40 min
Total:: 1 hr 0 min

Recipe Tools:

Select a Card Size

Add To My Recipe Box

Success

This recipe was added to your Folder_Name folder.

Do not show this message again

Add To My Recipe Box

Please sign in to add this recipe to your Recipe Box.

Ingredients

1 small eggplant, peeled and 3/4-inch diced
1 red bell pepper, 1-inch diced
1 yellow bell pepper, 1-inch diced
1 red onion, peeled and 1-inch diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/3 cup good olive oil
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 pound orzo or rice-shaped pasta

For the dressing:

1/3 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (2 lemons)
1/3 cup good olive oil
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

To assemble:

4 scallions, minced (white and green parts)
1/4 cup pignolis (pine nuts), toasted
3/4 pound good feta, 1/2-inch diced (not crumbled)
15 fresh basil leaves, cut into julienne

Directions

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.

Toss the eggplant, bell peppers, onion, and garlic with the olive oil, salt, and pepper on a large sheet pan. Roast for 40 minutes, until browned, turning once with a spatula.

Meanwhile, cook the orzo in boiling salted water for 7 to 9 minutes, until tender. Drain and transfer to a large serving bowl. Add the roasted vegetables to the pasta, scraping all the liquid and seasonings from the roasting pan into the pasta bowl.

For the dressing, combine the lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper and pour on the pasta and vegetables. Let cool to room temperature, then add the scallions, pignolis, feta, and basil. Check the seasonings, and serve at room temperature.

Next Recipe

More recipes? Try these recommendations:

Similar Recipe

Pasta Pomodorini

Picture of Orzo with Roasted Vegetables Recipe

Photo: Orzo with Roasted Vegetables

Similar Recipes

Recipes Like This

All About…

Recipe Collections

Showing 1-10 of 18

View all 18 Italian Collections

Comments & Reviews

recipe Orzo with Roasted Vegetables
Jackie Kirkwood , MO 02-09-2010
Flag

I CRAVE THIS!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I am a young chef and this was one of the first dishes I made for my family. It is delicious! We all CRAVE it! The... combination of flavors plus the simplicity make this a 5 star side dish! Even if you don't like eggplant (or don't think you do) this is a dish to try- you will prove yourself wrong! You don't need the feta cheese, it has enough delicious flavor! Also I don't add any oil for the dressing there is still enough left after roasting! Wonderful healthy side dish! Read more
recipe Orzo with Roasted Vegetables
Meghan Chicago, IL 01-04-2010
Flag

Amazing
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

No wonder this has 5 stars - it is incredible!!! This is one of my favorite dishes I've ever made. My husband made me... promise that it would be a regular. I have loved all of Ina's recipes, so I'm not surprised this is so delicious, but I'm thrilled to have found this recipe. Perfect vegetarian option. Simple, colorful, flavorful, excellent!Read more
recipe Orzo with Roasted Vegetables
LEAH SCOTTSDALE, AZ 01-01-2010
Flag

Delicious & Easy
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

This was a crowd pleaser. Easy to make, not very time consuming. Delicious combo of flavors. Fed 6 with leftovers. Added... diced roasted chicken for the meat eaters, served it as is for the vegetarians. (Did sub zucchini for eggplant as I prefer it and doubled the amount of orzo per other reviewers' suggestions). Would be great at a picnic, potluck or any number of places where one wouldn't have access to heat up a dish.Read more
recipe Orzo with Roasted Vegetables
sally providence, RI 12-27-2009
Flag

Fabulous
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

Easy to assemble, delicious and healthy orzo recipe. My adult kids ask for it every time they are home!!
recipe Orzo with Roasted Vegetables
Barbara Nashville, TN 12-24-2009
Flag

The new comfort food
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

This has universally been a huge hit with family and friends. I have made it many, many times. It is extremely important to... use really high quality ingredients, especially the feta cheese for this recipe, use the sheep or sheep / goat milk feta, often labeled french or greek. If the label says "pasturized milk" or "milk" in the ingredients it is cows milk which has a much more antiseptic bite to it and does not compliment the dish. Although I have not tried this yet, I am planning to try adding a bit of fresh coarsely chopped tarragon to this recipe to help bring out the nuttiness of the pine nuts.Read more
recipe Orzo with Roasted Vegetables
Dean Albany, NY 12-23-2009
Flag

Great
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

This is a great dish. You can decrease the initial oil for roasting if you're finding your vegetables are too mushy (also try... not to use vegetables which might sweat a lot while roasting) and/or increase the temperature. However, you should add more oil toward the end since you want it infused with the roasted vegetable flavor. Do not attempt to make this without roasting the vegetables; it's where half the flavor comes from. I actually use much less oil in the dressing itself - seems unnecessary to use the amount asked for in the dressing. The dressing itself is tasteless, but when thrown all together it just works. Also, I decrease the amount of feta to 8 oz (most packages of feta are 8 oz anyway). Read more