Contributed By: flamingostar
Chatelaine magazine
While we love a bowlful of creamy steamy risotto heavenly scented with mushrooms, we don't like the long cooking time. Orzo is a smart substitute. It looks like rice, but cooks in half the time
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Total Preparation Time: Less than 15 minutes
Actual Cooking Time: 15 to 30 minutes
Number of Servings: 6
Special Features: Quick to Prepare (under 30 minutes)
Nutrition Content: Good Source of Calcium
Low Fat
Meal Type: Entree
Ingredients
1 tbsp (15 mL) butter or olive oil
1 Large onion, coarsely chopped
2 Garlic cloves, minced, or 1 tbsp (15 mL) bottled chopped garlic
8 oz (250 g) pkg sliced button mushrooms or about 4 cups (1 L)
½ tsp (2 mL) salt
¼ to ½ tsp (1 to 2 mL) dried thyme leaves
3 Plum tomatoes
2 Green onions
1½ cups (375 mL) uncooked orzo
10 oz (284 mL) can undiluted chicken broth
1 cup (250 mL) water
1 cup (250 mL) grated Asiago or Parmesan cheese
Preparation
1. Melt butter in a large saucepan set over medium-high heat. When bubbly, add onion. Stir often just until onion begins to soften, from 1 to 2 minutes. Add garlic and mushrooms. Sprinkle in salt and ¼ teaspoon (1 mL) thyme. Stir often until mushrooms are golden-tinged, from 3 to 4 minutes. Meanwhile, coarsely chop tomatoes and thinly slice green onions. Set green onions aside. Stir in tomatoes with any juice and seeds and orzo. Then pour in chicken broth.
2. Using a wooden spoon, scrape up and stir in any brown bits from pan bottom into sauce for added flavour. Stir constantly until orzo absorbs most of liquid in pan, about 5 minutes. Add water and stir often until most of liquid is absorbed, from 4 to 5 minutes. Mixture should look a little soupy.
3. Remove from heat and stir in cheese and green onions until cheese has melted, about 1 minute. Taste and stir in remaining ¼ teaspoon (1 mL) thyme, if needed. Ladle risotto into warm soup bowls and serve immediately with a leafy green salad and thick slices of fresh focaccia or pumpernickel.
Cook's Notes
exc niacin
good source of calcium and magnesium
Nutrition Information
Calories: 322
;
Total Fat: 7 g
;
Saturated Fat: 4 g
;
Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4 g
;
Carbohydrates: 49 g
;
Protein: 17 g
;
Vitamin A: 433 IU
;
Vitamin C: 8 mg
;
Calcium: 179 mg
;
Sodium: 702 mg
;
Iron: 2.7 mg
;
Fiber: 3 g