Description
Mouthwatering Baked Orzo Delight with Savory Meatballs combines Mediterranean flavors in one comforting dish. Hearty ingredients and rich seasonings create a memorable meal you’ll savor to the last delicious bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2–3 cups chicken meatballs (premade)
- 16 oz (454 g) DeLallo orzo
- 3 cups (710 ml) vegetable or chicken broth
- 2 cups (475 ml) ready-to-serve tomato soup
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes (halved)
- ½ cup (50 g) Parmesan cheese
- 1 clove garlic
- 2 tbsps (30 ml) butter
- Fresh basil (for topping)
- DeLallo Private Reserve Olive Oil (for topping)
Instructions
- Preparation: Ignite the oven to a fiery 425 degrees, positioning a 9×13 inch baking dish as the stage for this culinary performance.
- Layering Foundation: Spread uncooked orzo across the dish, nestling meatballs, cherry tomatoes, broth, and tomato soup into a harmonious landscape, ensuring each ingredient finds its perfect placement.
- Initial Baking Cycle: Slide the ensemble into the preheated oven, allowing the ingredients to dance and meld for 25 minutes, creating a symphony of flavors and textures.
- Mid-Cooking Intervention: Carefully extract the dish, gently stirring to promote even liquid absorption and prevent any orzo from becoming marooned in dry pockets.
- Final Transformation: If orzo seems resistant, return to the oven for an additional 10 minutes, introducing extra broth to maintain moisture and tenderness.
- Flavor Enhancement: Once orzo reaches peak perfection, remove from oven and introduce minced garlic, stirring to infuse an aromatic intensity throughout the dish.
- Finishing Touches: Generously shower Parmesan cheese across the surface, incorporate butter for luxurious creaminess, and crown with fresh basil leaves and a sophisticated drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.
Notes
- Master Liquid Balance: Carefully monitor broth and liquid levels throughout cooking to prevent dry orzo; add extra broth in small increments if mixture looks too dry.
- Precise Oven Timing: Watch closely during final 10 minutes to avoid overcooking; orzo should be tender but not mushy, maintaining a slight al dente texture.
- Cheese Melting Technique: Add Parmesan near end of cooking to prevent burning and ensure smooth, creamy integration with the dish’s overall flavor profile.
- Fresh Herb Enhancement: Incorporate basil leaves just before serving to preserve their vibrant color and maximize aromatic freshness, elevating the final presentation.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 412
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 860 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 52 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 32 mg