Cookbook Chronicles: Very Green Orzotto

Cookbook Chronicles is an on-going series at The Bookery. Over the course of the next year, we'll delve into The Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond’s, cookbook, Super Easy! trying one recipe per month.

The recipe: Very Green Orzotto

The cookbook: Super Easy! by Ree Drummond, page 196

The details: I was looking for a side dish that incorporated a lot of fresh veggies, and this one seemed to check all the boxes. Zucchini? Check. Asparagus? Check. Broccolini? You betcha, plus even more! Add in some orzo (a small rice-shaped pasta) and Parmesan cheese, and I was IN!

Basically, very green orzo is a bunch of green veggies paired with orzo, Parmesan and herbs. It sounded delicious and a great way to add a good variety of vegetables to my plate. Plus, it seemed easy enough to pull together.

The adjustments: Despite all my well-laid plans, I missed getting a couple of ingredients on my shopping list for this recipe—namely a lemon (which I think would have helped punch up the recipe). I was also missing kale (I subbed in spinach) and used dried spices.

The verdict: It was … OK. I really, really wanted to love this recipe, but it was just kind of bland to me and needed a little extra oomph. Maybe that lemon really was important in bringing all the flavors together! Also, if you’re hoping to pull this one together quickly after a long day, be aware there’s a ton of chopping, and it’s probably best to rinse and chop as much as possible ahead of time if you need a side dish on the table in less than 30 minutes.

Up next: Italian Chopped Salad

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