Got to Be NC
Recipe by: Lisa Prince

Lemon Thyme Orzo with Asparagus

Debbie Matthews writes for the Henderson Daily Dispatch, the Sanford Herald, and IndyWeek and she shared this recipe and these stir in options. At the end of cooking and off the heat, instead of asparagus, use frozen peas.  Or roasted broccoli and thinly sliced sun-dried tomatoes. Drop the asparagus and add snipped Chinese chives and halved grape tomatoes you’ve blistered in a very hot skillet with 1 teaspoon olive oil. Nix the pea shoots, and stir in 2 cups raw baby spinach. You could also blanch, grill or roast the asparagus.

Servings: 4
Cook Time: Prep Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 30 minutes
Meal Type: Entree
NC Ingredients: Thyme, rosemary, asparagus, bacon

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Ingredients

1
tablespoon olive oil
2
to 3 garlic cloves, minced
2
teaspoons fresh minced rosemary
1
cup orzo
1/2
cup white wine
2
½ cups chicken or vegetable stock
1/2
lemon, zested + 2 tablespoons juice
2
tablespoons fresh chopped thyme leaves
1
pound asparagus, cleaned and sliced into 1-inch pieces
1/3
cup shredded Parmesan
Salt and freshly cracked black pepper
1/4
to 1/2 cup crumbled crispy bacon (optional)
Pea shoots (optional)

Directions

Heat large skillet on medium and add olive oil.  Stir in garlic and rosemary.  When fragrant, add orzo and stir constantly until it’s lightly toasted.  Deglaze with wine.  Add stock, and simmer on medium until most of the liquid has been absorbed, stirring occasionally, about 15-20 minutes. Remove from heat, and stir in lemon zest, juice, thyme, asparagus, and cheese. Season with salt and pepper to taste; transfer to a serving bowl and top with crispy bacon, and a handful of pea shoots.

 
As seen on wral.com's Local Dish Play WRAL video

Recipes found on this page are from Got to Be NC members, staff, industry partners and Stove Side Chats. Stove Side Chats is Got to Be NC’s cooking show hosted by restaurant marketing specialist Chad Blackwelder. This series invites chefs and home cooks from around the state to teach you how to cook with in-season North Carolina deliciousness.