Quick Lemon Orzo Recipe (2024)

Get this creamy lemon orzo on the table in 10-minutes flat.

Put your fork away. You'll be needing a big spoon for this wonderfully creamy pasta bowl with silky orzo, baby spinach and peas. This is fast food at its most fabulous.

This recipe was originally published November 16, 2019 and reposted on December 3, 2022 with updated ingredients and substitutions, instructions and images.

Having quick and easy vegan recipes in your back pocket can make the difference between getting through the week and getting through eating two-minute noodles every night.

You can power up with my 3-ingredient vegan zucchini soup, a 5-ingredient pumpkin lentil soup with ginger or slam down a quick vegan shawarma with roasted jackfruit. Or, you can try this dreamy orzo bowl.

Why This Recipe Works

We have this recipe on speed dial. Why?

Ingredients & Substitutions

Orzo (risoni). Well, you kind of need this as it's lemon orzo. You can find orzo or risoni in your pasta aisle at the supermarket.

Olive oil. Not pictured.

Leek. I love the delicate flavour of leeks for this lemon orzo, but a white onion or French shallots will work too.

Garlic. Always.

Salt and pepper. Again. Always.

Dried oregano. Oregano works really well with the lemon and garlic but you could swap it for a little basil or even mix it up with a pinch of chilli flakes.

Vegetable stock. While you can use water, stock just gives more oomph to the flavour and adds depth.

Dairy-free milk. I use soy but cashew, oat or almond will work too

Lemon. We are using both the juice and the zest so if you can get your hands on organic lemons, that would be great,. If not, no matter.

Frozen peas. Adding a little protein and colour.

Leafy greens. I like baby spinach but you can use your favourite leafy green. You will need to add them a little earlier to make sure they cook through.

Vegan parmesan. Because it's yum.

Are Orzo and Risoni the Same Thing?

Yup. Risoni in Australia is Orzo pretty much everywhere else. We also call swimsuits "toggs," thongs "g-strings" and football "footy." Don't ask me why, I just live here.

Risoni and orzo are different names for the same little rice-shaped pasta that is fast becoming my new food crush. It is super quick to cook and when made in a single pot, like this creamy lemon orzo, it's like eating risotto with less than half the cooking time.

Orzo cooks in around 7-minutes and continues cooking so by the time you've thrown some plates on the table, dinner is served.

Step-by-Step Guide

You'll find full instructions and measurements in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

Step 1. OK, so first we are going to heat the olive oil in a skillet or pan over low-medium heat. Add the sliced leek and cook, stirring regularly, for 3 to 4 minutes or until the leek is soft.

Step 2. Add the minced garlic and cook until fragrant before stirring in the dried oregano and the orzo (risoni).

Step 3. Stir the mixture together and then add the stock, lemon zest and juice and the dairy-free milk. Turn the heat up to medium-high and bring the mixture up to a boil before reducing the heat again to a simmer.

Step 4. Cook the orzo foraround7 minutes, stirring regularly to make sure it doesn't stick to the pan, adding the peas at the 5-minute mark.You want it almost al dente.

Step 5. Go ahead and remove it from the heat and stir in the baby spinach and a little butter. Let it sit for a minute to give the spinach time to wilt before serving.

Serve with vegan parmesan and some fresh herbs.

What To Serve With Your Lemon Orzo

This lemon orzo is so adaptable. If peas and spinach aren't your thing, make it your own by adding a twist. We've tried and tested these variations:

Fantastically creamy with a hint of lemon, oregano, green peas and baby spinach, this lemon orzo is like a quick bear hug.

A perfect bowl of comfort on chilly days andpretty darn good served cold when you need it - don't judge, sometimes a girl can't wait to re-heat. A simple little recipe for the back pocket when you need fast food but you want it fabulous.

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