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–+ servings
A close up of vegetable lemon orzo in a bowl.
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5 from 3 votes

Creamy Lemon Orzo Pasta

Make this delightfully flavorsome and tangy one pot lemon orzo in the Instant Pot in less than 30 mins.
Prep Time7 minutes
Cook Time14 minutes
Course: Main Course, Sides
Cuisine: American, Italian
Servings: 4
Calories: 287kcal

Equipment

  • 1 six quart Instant Pot
  • 1 set measuring cups and spoons

Ingredients

  • 20 grams butter
  • 1.5 tbsp chopped garlic
  • 1 cup finely chopped onions
  • ¾ cup green peas (I have used frozen fresh green peas)
  • 3/4 cup sweet corn (Both fresh and frozen corn work well)
  • 1 cup finely chopped spinach
  • ½ tsp Italian herbs
  • 1/2 tsp crushed black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp red chili flakes
  • 10 to 12 mint leaves
  • 1 cup orzo
  • 1.75 cups vegetable stock
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1.75 oz feta (50 grams)

Instructions

Prep work

  • Gather all your ingredients. Chop the veggies and measure your orzo and broth. Set aside.

Making orzo

  • Insert the inner pot into the instant pot. Plug in the Instant Pot and press SAUTE -NORMAL mode. Set the timer to 9 mins.
  • Add the butter to the inner pot and when it melts, tip in the chopped garlic. Saute the garlic till it begins to turn brown.
  • Now, add the chopped onions, stir and saute them until soft. When done, add the fresh green peas, sweet corn kernels and chopped spinach.
  • Stir to combine and cook till the spinach begins to wilt. Now, add the fresh mint leaves along with the seasonings except salt. Mix well.
  • Add in the orzo followed by the broth. Stir gently once or twice.
  • Now, pour in the lemon juice and add the crumbled feta. Press CANCEL.
  • Ensure that the sealing ring has been fitted properly into the Instant Pot lid. Close the Instant pot and turn the VALVE to SEALING.
  • Press PRESSURE COOK-HIGH PRESSURE and set the timer to 5 mins. Wait for the cooking cycle to complete fully.
  • As soon as the cooking cycle is complete, PRESS CANCEL. We do not want the Instant Pot to switch to KEEP WARM mode here.
  • Now, do a quick pressure release carefully by turning the VALVE to VENTING. When done, open the lid and gently mix to combine.
  • Serve hot with your favorite sides.

Stove top Lemony Orzo

  • Heat a heavy bottomed pan like a Dutch oven with butter.
  • When the butter melts, add the garlic and allow it to become golden.
  • Now, add the onions and saute till its soft.
  • Tip in the vegetables and seasonings.
  • Add the broth next and allow it to come to a boil.
  • Now, add the orzo along with feta, mint and lemon juice.
  • Stir and cook covered on medium heat till the orzo is cooked through, absorbing all the liquid. This takes anywhere between 7 to 9 mins.

Notes

  • I do not recommend cooking anything less than 1 cup of orzo in the Instant Pot. For cooking anything in the IP, you need a minimum of 1 cup fluid. Since reducing the orzo also means scaling down the liquid, it becomes a safety issue.
  • If you are using broth or stock to make this pasta, please be mindful of the salt. Since we will be adding cheese as well, keep an eye while adding the salt.
  • I recommend stirring in shredded parmesan or ricotta only after the orzo is cooked since the residual heat is sufficient for them to mix well into the pasta.
  • This orzo and liquid ratio is perfect for al-dente pasta. Softer pasta needs 6 mins cooking time followed by immediate quick pressure release.
  • The total time for this dish including the pressurizing time is 20 mins. ( 9 mins Saute mode- 5 mins for pressurising and 5 mins cooking time)
  • While doing a quick pressure release, stay away from the vent because pasta usually sputters water. 
  • After cooking, the orzo may look watery. Do not freak out. It will absorb the liquid as it cools and settle down.
  • After doing the quick pressure release, please do not switch to KEEP WARM MODE. Press CANCEL immediately to prevent the pasta from becoming dry at the bottom.

 

For Instant Pot & Air Fryer Recipes

Instant Pot timings may vary based on your geographic location. Air fryer settings and timings may vary based on the capacity and the model of the Air fryer.

Disclaimer

Nutrition values are provided here as a courtesy and are only a rough guide. Please consult a health care provider if you have any concerns.

Nutrition

Calories: 287kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 22mg | Sodium: 607mg | Potassium: 380mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 1547IU | Vitamin C: 23mg | Calcium: 114mg | Iron: 2mg
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