Orzo with Roasted Pumpkin and Onions
- Total Time: 55 mins
- Yield: 2 1x
Description
Roasted Pumpkin and slightly caramelized onions provide sweetness that is offset by a generous helping of balsamic vinegar.
Ingredients
- 1 small pumpkin, peeled and diced into bite size pieces
- 3 to 4 small red onions, peeled and cut into halves
- 1 cup (240 ml) orzo (uncooked)
- a large bunch of basil
- a few cloves of garlic
- olive oil
- a good glug of balsamic vinegar
- fennel seeds
- 1 tsp sugar
- salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 450F.
- In a baking dish or tray add the diced pumpkin and garlic. Drizzle some olive oil, sprinkle some salt and mix well using you hands – make sure all the pumpkin pieces are coated well with the oil.
- In a separate baking bowl add halved onions and drizzle with some olive oil and balsamic vinegar. You want the vinegar to coat the onions and collect a little at the bottom of the baking dish. Sprinkle salt, sugar and fennel seeds.
- Bake both pumpkin and onions in the oven for about 30 to 40 minutes or till they both are cooked through. The onions should be slightly charred on the edges.
- Cook orzo (just like pasta).
- Tear the basil leaves into bite size pieces.
- In a large mixing bowl add all your ingredients and toss well till everything is coated well in the balsamic vinegar. Serve right away.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 40 mins
- Category: Side
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 420
Find it online: https://honestcooking.com/orzo-with-roasted-pumpkin-and-onions/
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why are the pumpkin and onions roasted separately in different pans?
The pumpkin is dressed with just olive oil and salt, while the onions get a generous coating of balsamic vinegar, sugar, and fennel seeds so they caramelize and char at the edges. Combining them in one pan would dilute the balsamic coating and prevent the onions from properly caramelizing, so separate trays at 450°F for 30–40 minutes give each component its best result.
What role do the fennel seeds play, and can I leave them out?
Fennel seeds are sprinkled over the balsamic onions before roasting and add a subtle anise-like sweetness that plays off the caramelized vinegar. The recipe doesn’t offer a substitute, but you can omit them if you dislike fennel; the onions will still caramelize beautifully with the balsamic and sugar.
