Balsamic Pear Orzo
Orzo was one of those things that didn’t have a gluten free substitute for the longest time! I could still eat pasta obviously, but there is something unique about orzo. When I found an alternative I was so excited to try this balsamic pear orzo! Thanks to Banza and their chickpea pasta we now have GF orzo! They market it as a lower carb rice option, but let’s be honest, it’s rice shaped pasta AKA orzo. The low carb movement strikes again!
I’ve used the Banza rice in a stir-fry situation and it was really weird tasting because it tastes like pasta, so using it for orzo makes much more sense to me. It cooks just like pasta, and it keeps great in the fridge. I’ve found it at Whole Foods, and I think Target is starting to carry it. Let’s talk about what else you’ll need for this balsamic pear orzo recipe.
Ingredient Prep
I didn’t used to be a fan of fruit in savory dishes, but I’m coming around to it. One of the main reasons is that brussels sprouts go so well with fruit like pears! Add in some shallot and optional parmesan cheese, and you’ve got a sophisticated and delicious flavor combination.
Brussels sprouts taste best grilled or roasted to me, so you are going to want to prep these guys ahead of time. You can even do it the day before and keep them in the fridge. They won’t be as crispy, but they do keep their roasted flavor. I like to cut them into quarters and place them on a lined baking sheet. Then I roast them at 400 degrees F for about 20 minutes. I give them a good shake and roast for another 10-20 minutes until they are brown but not burnt.
For the pears, I used a green Anjou pear because they are my favorite and easy to find. You can use whatever type of pear is your favorite. I think they all pair well with the other ingredients. Simply slice them into pieces right before you are about to cook them, so they don’t turn brown.
Get the full recipe below, and check out more of my favorite ways to cook pasta in this minestrone soup recipe. You can also learn more about roasting vegetables like brussels sprouts below!
Balsamic Pear Orzo
Ingredients
- 2 cups brussels sprouts quartered
- 8 oz. package orzo
- 1 medium shallot diced
- 2 medium pears
- 2 tbsp olive oil divided
- 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Cut the base of the brussels sprouts and cut them into quarters. Toss in oil and season with salt and pepper. Cook for about 40 minutes.
- Cook the orzo according to package instructions. Once drained, add about 1 tbsp of oil to the orzo to keep it from sticking
- Add oil to a pan over medium heat. Dice the shallot and add to the pan. Cook until the shallot is translucent. Lower the heat.
- Cut the pears into slices. Add the pears to the pan.
- Add the balsamic vinegar to the pan and toss the pears to cover them. Season with salt and pepper and cook for about 10 minutes for the pears to soften and for the vinegar to reduce a bit.
- Mix the orzo with the balsamic pears, shallot, and brussels sprouts. Season with any additional salt and pepper and top with optional parmesan cheese.