Green Pesto Orzo
- Simple
- 0:20 m
- 8 ingredients
A delightful reinvention of a traditional Tuscan pasta, our Green Orzo is where classic meets plant-power. We've packed this dish with a lush, vibrant pesto made with the freshest cavolo nero, richly flavoured with garlic, and perfectly balanced with a splash of lemon. Throw in creamy cashews and a sprinkle of nutritional yeast for that irresistible, cheesy umami flavour, and you're onto a winner!
Serves: 4
Ingredients
For the Green Pesto
- 300g cavolo nero
- 3 large garlic cloves
- 80ml olive oil
- 100g cashews
- 4 tbsp nutritional yeast
- 1 lemon
- Salt & pepper
For the Orzo
- 400g orzo
To Serve
- black pepper
- extra virgin olive oil
Before you start
Large saucepan | Kettle boiled | Colander | Food processor or high speed blender
Step 1
Prepare the green pesto
- Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil
- Strip the cavalo nero leaves from the stalks and peel the garlic cloves
- When the water is boiling, drop the cavalo leaves and garlic cloves into the water, cook for 5 minutes. Using tongs, remove the cavalo leaves and garlic from the water and allow to drain in a colander. Squeeze any excess water out of the leaves. Add the leaves and garlic to a food processor and pulse to break down the leaves. Add the cashews, nutritional yeast and a few more times to combine. Whilst the processor is running, pour in the olive oil. Finally, add the juice from ½ lemon, salt and pepper and pulse a couple more times. Set aside
Ingredients
- 300g cavolo nero
- 3 large garlic cloves
- 80ml olive oil
- 100g cashews
- 4 tbsp nutritional yeast
- 1 lemon
- Salt & pepper
Step 2
For the orzo
- Return the pot of water to the boil. Add the orzo and cook as per instructions on the packet. Drain away the water, saving ½ cup full, and tip the orzo back to the pan
- Stir the pesto and pasta water through the orzo over medium heat for 2 minutes, until the pesto has heated through and the orzo is coated
Ingredients
- 400g orzo
Step 3
Serve
- Divide the orzo between 4 bowls and serve with cracked black pepper and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil
Ingredients
- black pepper
- extra virgin olive oil