Description
Lemon Parmesan Sausage Orzo is a hearty dish combining tender orzo, savory Italian sausage, and fresh asparagus in a creamy, lemony sauce.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 10 1/2 ounces Italian chicken sausage with no skin (300 grams)
- 1 finely chopped medium yellow onion
- 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 1-2 teaspoon(s) finely grated lemon zest
- 1 bunch asparagus, chop each in three or four (250 grams)
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil (if needed)
- 8 ounces uncooked orzo (225 grams)
- 1 teaspoon salt (plus to taste)
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper (plus to taste)
- 3 cups chicken (or vegetable) stock, divided (750 milliliters)
- 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese (30 grams)
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh parsley
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon capers (optional)
Instructions
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the Italian sausage, and cut the sausage into minced meat with the spatula. Cook until golden, roughly 5-7 minutes. Then take the sausage out of the pan.
- Reduce the heat to medium and add the chopped onion to the same skillet. Cook the onion until translucent, about 7 minutes.
- Now add in the garlic, lemon zest, and chopped asparagus. Cook for 2 minutes, until fragrant and the asparagus gets a bright green color.
- If needed, add more oil to the pan. Add the uncooked orzo and cook for a minute to toast.
- Add in 1 cup of the chicken stock, while stirring. Once the orzo has absorbed almost all the liquid, add another 1 cup of chicken stock and repeat. Continue with the last cup.
- Cook until al dente, no more than about 10 minutes total. For the last 2 minutes, add the cooked sausage to reheat. Taste and add more salt and pepper as needed.
- Once done, take it off the heat and stir in freshly grated parmesan cheese, capers (if using), lemon juice, and fresh parsley.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Additional Time: 0 hours
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Courses
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1
- Calories: 440
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 1229
- Fat: 14
- Saturated Fat: 4
- Unsaturated Fat: 8
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 48
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 28
- Cholesterol: 76