Orzo With Celery, Cranberries and Pecans
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“Found printed on a package of celery from Cali. A recipe that can be either prepared as a stuffing or served as a side dish (or salad with a few modifications).”
Orzo With Celery, Cranberries and Pecans
1 recipe photo
READY IN:35mins |
SERVES:6 |
YIELD:5 cups |
UNITS:US |
Ingredients Nutrition
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3⁄4 cup yellow red onion (if desired, use red onion if you choose to prepare this as a salad)
- 1 1⁄2 cups diced celery
- 1 1⁄2 cups orzo pasta (cooked in vegetable or chicken broth and drained)
- 1⁄2 cup dried cranberries (reduced from 3/4 cup)
- 1⁄2 cup pecans (toasted) or 1⁄2 cup sliced almonds (toasted)
- 3 tablespoons fresh basil (fresh only!)
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 1 pinch salt
- cracked black pepper
Directions
- STUFFING: Melt butter with olive oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add diced onion, cooking 4 minutes or until onions are translucent and golden brown.
- Add celery; cook 4 minutes longer.
- In a large bowl, combine the drained orzo, cooked celery and onion, cranberries, nuts, basil, lemon juice, salt and pepper to taste.
- Toss gently.
- At this point, if desired, the orzo is now ready to be stuffed.
- Variations:
- As a SIDE DISH: Heat up the olive oil and butter in a saute pan on medium heat. Saute the celery, onion and UNCOOKED orzo pasta until lightly browned.
- Add 3 cups water or broth and bring to boil. Cover pan, reduce heat and simmer on low for 20 minutes or until liquid has evaporated.
- Remove from heat and stir in the cranberries, pecans, fresh basil, lemon juice, salt and pepper.
- To make it as a SALAD: boil orzo and cook until tender. Drain and rinse under cool water. Drain again. Transfer orzo to a salad bowl. Add the diced onion, minced celery and shredded basil to the pasta. In a small non-reactive bowl, whisk together about 2 tablespoons olive oil, 2 tablespoons lemon juice (play around with the proportion and amount of oil and lemon juice as desired), salt and pepper. Stir the vinaigrette into the orzo. FYI: the butter is omitted.
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Orzo With Celery, Cranberries and Pecans