Late summer and early fall collide beautifully in this pesto orzo dish with roasted cherry tomatoes and fennel. The vegetables bake in the oven while you stir up the orzo with white beans on the stove. This vegan dinner idea shares a similar flavor profile with this red wine lentils with confit cherry tomatoes and fennel dishโsuper sumptuous and seasonal! This pesto orzo pasta takes about 30 minutes to prepare.
A complete orzo-based meal in a skillet is one of my go-to moves! Especially when the local produce is really popping off. Tomatoes and fresh fennel compliment each other so beautifullyโfolks who have made the fennel gratin from my cookbook will know all about it ;). I find myself craving them this time of year like clockwork.
In addition to the veg, pesto is a sauce that naturally compliments orzo. Combine the gradual cooking of the rice-shaped pasta with the rich, basil-based sauce, and you get a very lush final experience. Of course, I had to include a legume in the mix for some extra satiation.
Beyond the core elements of this creamy pesto orzo, you need a tight selection of ingredients that show up in my recipes often. Pile the veggies on top of the orzo and tuck in. Hope you love it!
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Pesto Orzo with Roasted Cherry Tomatoes, Fennel & White Beans (Vegan)
Ingredients
Roasted Cherry Tomatoes & Fennel
- 1 bulb fresh fennel
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- pinch chili flakes, optional
- salt and pepper, to taste
Pesto Orzo with White Beans
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1 medium shallot, small dice
- ยฝ lb (227 grams) orzo pasta
- 1 ยฝ cups cooked white beans, drained and rinsed (from a 15 oz/443 ml can)
- salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 cups vegetable stock, plus extra if needed
- ยพ cup vegan pesto
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- chopped fresh basil for garnish, optional
Notes
- Orzo loves to stick to the bottom of the pan when youโre cooking it gradually in a skillet/braiser like this. Stir and scrape the bottom of the pot often.
- I used homemade pesto here. Store bought is also great! Make this recipe work for you :)
- My orzo in the pictures is a variety made with whole spelt flour. Regular orzo functions exactly the same.
Instructions
Roast Cherry Tomatoes & Fennel
- Preheat the oven to 400ยฐF.
- Remove the tops of the fennel and cut the bulb in half across the wide side. Remove the core and slice the fennel. Place it on the baking sheet. Add the cherry tomatoes to the baking sheet, along with olive oil, lemon zest, chili flakes (if using), salt and pepper. Toss to combine.
- Roast the fennel and cherry tomatoes until fennel has a bit of caramelization and tomatoes have burst, about 30 minutes.
Make Pesto Orzo with White Beans
- Set a deep skillet or braiser-style pot over medium heat. Once hot, pour in the olive oil. Add the shallots and stir. Cook shallots until softened and translucent, about 4 minutes. Add the orzo pasta and stir to coat. Add the white beans, stir, and then season the mixture liberally with salt and pepper.
- Add the vegetable stock and stir. Bring the mixture to a boil and then simmer until the orzo is soft, about 8 minutes. Stir often to avoid sticking. Add additional splashes of vegetable stock if the orzo is absorbing it too quickly.
- Once the orzo is soft and has a starchy/creamy texture, add the pesto and lemon juice. Stir thoroughly. You want the final texture to be a bit fluid, so add more vegetable stock if you like.
- Serve the pesto orzo with roasted cherry tomatoes and fennel on top. Garnish with chopped basil if you like. Enjoy hot!
Big hit with the whole family.
So glad to hear this! Thanks for this review, TJ.
-L
Made this as soon as I got home from work (picked up the fennel on my lunch break). The flavour combinations were incredible as always, and it was ready in about 30 minutes. Definitely going into my regular recipe rotation!
Teo, Iโm so glad you enjoyed the orzo! Thanks for leaving this comment and review :)
-L