This is Lemon Orzo with Toasted Pine Nuts is one of my favorite side dishes. It's quick and easy, healthy and goes with just about any entree. This flavorful side dish is light and so simple to make, yet it looks pretty fancy.
Lemon Orzo with Toasted Pine Nuts
The perfect sweet and savory side dish is here. Everyone's favorite lemon orzo is even easier and more delicious that you imagined.
If you are looking for some more easy, healthy side dish recipes you will love this Green Goddess Salad, Sweet Potato Brussels Sprout Quinoa Bowl and definitely this Mushroom Cauliflower Rice Risotto!
All of these would be even more yummy with some Low Carb Bulletproof Hot Chocolate, Apple Chai Latte, Eggnog Latte and definitely some Spiked Apple Cider!
Also, my cookbooks are both on sale now and would make a great gift! The Everything Wheat Free Diet Cookbook and The Greek Yogurt Cookbook are both the lowest prices I have seen!
Why You Should Make This Lemon Orzo with Toasted Pine Nuts
This is one of those light and simple side dishes that will be delicious with just about any main dish. This lemon orzo is loaded with so much flavor and is extremely customizable.
This lemon orzo only takes 20 minutes to prepare and is perfect for meal prep days. I like to make a batch of this and place in individual containers in my refrigerator to have for lunch or dinner for the week. It's a huge time saver.
Recipe Tips
My kids don't love it too lemony, so sometimes I only zest one lemon. Personally for me, the more lemon the better.
Sometimes I will cut it in half and make it less lemony for my kids. And of course I add more Parmesan to mine.
The toasted pine nuts add a great crunchy texture, and you can use whatever nuts you'd like for this recipe. If I make this and don't have pine nuts on hand I have used sliced almonds and even pistachios before and they were delicious.
I do typically have pine nuts in my house because I frequently make my Simple Pesto Recipe. My family could eat homemade pesto every day and be very, very happy.
I always like to make simple side dishes for my family to mix it up a bit. Let's be honest, my kids would probably eat buttered noodles or macaroni and cheese every night if I let them.
Oh and feel free to leave out the parsley if you have a kid that doesn't like green things in their foods. I totally get that too.
Related Recipes
Herby Olive Italian Orzo Salad from Ambitious Kitchen
Caprese Quinoa Salad from Lauren Kelly Nutrition
Toasted Orzo Pasta with Parmesan and Sundried Tomatoes from The Mediterranean Dish
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Lemon Orzo with Toasted Pine Nuts
Ingredients
- 16 ounces orzo
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- ½ lemon juiced
- ¼ cup fresh parsley minced
- 1 clove garlic minced
- ¼ cup pine nuts toasted
- 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese
- salt and pepper
Instructions
- Cook orzo according to instructions, usually about 8-10 minutes.
- Drain well. Do not run under water.
- In a small bowl, mix lemon juice and olive oil.
- Transfer orzo to serving bowl, add garlic, drizzle with oil and lemon juice and season with salt & pepper.
- Add lemon zest, pine nuts and parsley and toss. Top with parmesan cheese.
Melissa
This is so unique and delicious! Loved everything about it!
Dylan
Absolutely loved making this! Super easy and incredibly tasty – a definite go-to dish! Thanks for sharing.
Lauren Kelly
So happy you love it too! Thank you!
Sharina
Paired this with fried chicken and kids love the combo! So delicious and pleasing! I'm keeping this recipe!
Lauren Kelly
Mmmm...that sounds perfect together!
Lesley
I love orzo and it is great alongside any main entree!
PB and Peppers (@JenatPBandP)
Looks wonderful! I love orzo pasta, yet I never make it! Crazy!! This looks just amazing!