Orzo with Ramp Pesto
This Orzo with Ramp Pesto is the perfect Spring recipe and can be enjoyed as a main dish but would be splendid to take to a family bbq or picnic as well!
Equipment
- large pot
- food processor or blender
- oven
Ingredients
ORZO INGREDIENTS
- 1 small bag orzo
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- Pinch pinch of chili flakes
- ½ block tofu (pressed and dried)
- 1 tsp smoked paprika, pinch salt, cracked pepper
- ½ onion (diced)
- 2 garlic cloves (minced)
- 7 asparagus spears (trimmed and cut in 1"pieces)
- ½ zucchini (diced)
- 1 cup edamame
- Handful pea shoots
- ¾-1 cup ramp pesto (recipe included)
- sea salt and cracked pepper
RAMP PESTO INGREDIENTS
- 1 bunch ramps (cleaned and trimmed)
- 4 cups mixed mint and cilantro
- ¼ cup nutritional yeast
- ½ cup raw walnuts
- 1 lemon juiced
- ½ tsp sea salt and cracked pepper
- ½ cup olive oil
Instructions
ORZO INSTRUCTIONS
- Bring a pot of water to a boil, salt liberally and cook orzo according to the package.
- Preheat the oven to 400 convection. Cube tofu and toss with olive oil, smoked paprika, salt and pepper. Arrange on a parchment lined baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes.
- Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a pan with chili flakes. Add onion and cook for several minutes. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds more before adding asparagus. Saute asparagus for 2-3 minutes before adding zucchini and edamame. Season with salt and cracked pepper.
- Add in cooked tofu, pea shoots and cooked orzo. toss to combine before adding in pesto. Start with 1/2 cup of pesto, toss and add more if desired. Mix well.
- Check for seasoning. Serve with lemon wedges and a hit of chili flakes (optional).
RAMP PESTO INSTRUCTIONS
- Cut ramps into 1" pieces. Place into a food processor with fresh herbs.
- Add remaining ingredients except for olive oil. Pulse several times to get things moving and then slowly start to add olive oil through the chute with the machine whirling.
- Add more oil if the pesto seems dry. Taste for seasoning and add to a glass jar sealed with a lid. Alternatively you could freeze the pesto for a later use.
- Add to rice, pasta, toast or wherever you like!