Description

A quick, elegant spring-inspired orzotto made creamy with pea purée and topped with perfectly pan-seared scallops. It delivers risotto-level luxury in a fraction of the time.

Ingredients

For the Orzotto:

1 cup fresh or frozen English peas (thawed if frozen)

2 tbsp butter

1 large shallot, diced

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 cup orzo

1/2 cup broth

2 cups warmed vegetable broth (more as needed)

1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus more to taste

3 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

Salt and pepper, to taste

For the Scallops:

2 tbsp vegetable oil

2 tbsp butter

4 scallops per person

Salt and pepper

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Instructions

Bring a small pot of salted water to a boil. Cook peas 3–4 minutes, then shock in ice water to keep bright. Purée 3/4 of the peas; reserve remaining whole peas.
In a saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add shallots and a pinch of salt; cook 3–4 minutes. Add garlic and cook 1 minute.
Stir in orzo and toast 2–3 minutes. Add 1/2 cup broth and cook until evaporated.
Reduce heat to medium-low. Add warmed broth 1/2 cup at a time, allowing each addition to absorb before adding more. Continue until creamy and orzo is fully cooked, 16–20 minutes.
Stir in pea purée and whole peas during the last few minutes. Remove from heat and stir in Parmesan, parsley, salt, and pepper. Keep warm.
For scallops: Heat oil and butter in a skillet over high heat until shimmering. Sear scallops without moving until golden, then flip and cook 1–2 minutes more. Do not exceed 3 minutes per side.
Season scallops with salt and pepper and serve immediately over the warm orzotto.

Notes

Swap parsley for mint for a brighter flavor.

Replace scallops with shrimp or roasted asparagus.

Add lemon zest for freshness or a splash of cream for richness.

Frozen peas work perfectly.

Reheat orzotto with added broth; always cook scallops fresh.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 serving
Calories: 520
Sugar: 4g
Sodium: 540mg
Fat: 26g
Saturated Fat: 12g
Unsaturated Fat: 12g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 48g
Fiber: 4g
Protein: 28g
Cholesterol: 115mg