Baked Orzo with Peppers and Cheese

joec

New member
[FONT=verdana, arial]Baked Orzo with Peppers and Cheese[/FONT]
[FONT=verdana, arial][/FONT]
[FONT=verdana, arial]2 ts Salt[/FONT]
[FONT=verdana, arial]1/2 c Roasted Red Peppers; diced[/FONT]
[FONT=verdana, arial]1/2 c Green Chili Peppers; diced[/FONT]
[FONT=verdana, arial]1 c Sour cream[/FONT]
[FONT=verdana, arial]2 tb Butter; cut into sm. bits[/FONT]
[FONT=verdana, arial]1 c Orzo[/FONT]
[FONT=verdana, arial]1 c Monterey Jack Cheese; diced[/FONT]
[FONT=verdana, arial]1/2 c Parmesan Cheese; grated[/FONT]

[FONT=verdana, arial]Add 2 teaspoons salt into boiling water, add orzo; boil 10 to 12 minutes until tender; drain. Put orzo into lightly buttered dish with peppers, chilies and Monterey Jack. Spread sour cream evenly over top, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, dot with butter. Bake at 450 degrees for 15 minutes, top shelf of oven until golden puffy. Cool slightly before serving. [/FONT]

[FONT=verdana, arial]Top Pictures is before it went into the oven while the bottom picture is after it came out.[/FONT]
 

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Wow, how beautiful, joe!

I love orzo! That's only one cup?

I'd like to play around with it to make a meal out of it - maybe add some cubed eggplant and/or ground lamb to it.

mmm MMMMM!

Lee
 
Joe, it was delicious! I was thinking there are other possibilities for the basic recipe. Sub maybe the following for the peppers; frozen chopped spinach/ steamed broccoli/ grilled and chopped asparagus, Just thinking

Mike
 
Yes I would agree with that. I tried this as a basic side dish but felt it was a bit lacking as a main course. I would definelty try it with egg plant, zuicinni or even lamb. I might also be good if you used Mozzarella instead of the Jack cheese leaving off the sour cream or using a bread crumb and Parmesan topping. Orzo is great in soups too which is where I mostly use them. I kind of did this one on the fly.
 
I was thinking bread crumbs too for that crispy goodness. Great minds . . .
Also, thought about using gruyere cheese instead of the Monteray jack.
DW wants me to scout for some whole wheat orzo as well. I shopped on the fly and the store had only 1 brand that even had orzo.
 
I haven't seen any whole wheat orzo in the stores but they sell it on line at [ame]http://www.amazon.com/RiceSelect-Whole-Wheat-Pasta-32-Ounce/dp/B000EGZ99M[/ame]
 
Thanks for the link. As I live out in the land of Birkenstocks, we have a good, local health food store I frequent for their bulk food items. It was going to be my first place to check. Also Trader Joe's has the best prices on ww pasta.
If your travels ever take you to the Cincinnati area check out Jungle Jim's in Fairfield. It is a foodie Mecca! http://www.junglejims.com/
 
Thanks I might check out Jungle Jim's since Cincinnati is only about an hour or so from me. I haven't really looked for the whole wheat stuff as I not really a fan of it though would probably eat it if I had it. Trader Joe's we don't have in my area but I have a great place called the Liquor Barn that is about the size of a most food stores with half dedicated to alcohol and the other half food that can't be found anywhere else in my area including Whole Foods. They have the best selection of cheese, olives, Italian hams, as well as great herbs/spices, hot sauces and International products especially Italian and Greek. Their Asian isn't quit as good but I've recently found some Indian, Chinese, Korean and Japanese stores within a few blocks of me. There is also 2 ladies that used to sell at the local farmer's market that opened a store 3 blocks from me that specializes in imported olive oils and vinegars that are out standing. Now if I could only find really fresh fish it would be great here but shrimp and lobster about all I can really get fresh in my area. Occasionally Whole Foods or Kroger's get some good looking fish which we jump on but not as often as I like.
 
JJ is really a fun place to go and an interesting story as well. The portico is an 84 Lumber kit garage where he ran a produce stand to fund his college tuition. He never graduated but I believe he's doing OK.
 
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