Roasted Summer Squash with Orzo

Roasted summer squash with orzo is the perfect side dish to serve in late summer to early fall.

If you’ve been reading the blog for a while then you know I love to cook BUT I try to cook healthy recipes that are EASY. I hate spending hours and hours on overly complicated dishes. If you love fresh veggies and quick cooking pasta this one is for you!

On the first Saturday of each month, a group of friends The Cozy Living Bloggers – share seasonal ideas for making home cozy. This wonderful series is organized by my friend Jennifer over at Town & Country Living.

I’ve made this dish so much this summer that I thought I would share the recipe this month.

What I love most about this dish is that it’s so versatile. It can be a main course or a side dish. It’s delicious warm with the shavings of parmesan melting on top, but is also just as nice cold with grilled food.

You can also grill the veggies outside if you prefer but I love them roasted with olive oil and herbs as it makes them taste even sweeter.

What is Orzo?

Orzo is pasta that is shaped like rice. It is also known as risoni. Orzo originated in Italy but is also used in Mediterranean and Middle East cuisines. It is fabulous in soups, mixed with rice (for rice pilaf) or pasta salads.

What is Herbs de Provence?

I discovered Herbs de Provence while living in England. I used to put it on EVERYTHING I cooked. It really does wonders for any dish. The herbs are those found in Provence and each mixture varies depending on the herb company, but Herbs de Provence usually has a combination of savory, oregano, marjoram, thyme, and rosemary. Lavender leaves are included in North America. I really enjoy the mix from Trader Joe’s as it comes in a cute pot with a wooden spoon.

We grow vegetables in our home garden but didn’t plant zucchini or summer squash this year. I LOVED picking up this fresh squash and zucchini at Holly Hill Farm.

Roasted Summer Squash with Orzo

Ingredients

• 2 Summer Squash, halved and sliced into half inch moons
• 2 Zucchini, halved and sliced into half inch moons
• 2 Tablespoons of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 1 Tablespoon Herbs de Provence
• 1 Cup Orzo
• Chopped Flat Leaf Italian Parsley, for serving
• Shaved Parmesan, for serving
• Season with Salt and Pepper

Method

Step 1 – Preheat your oven to 375° F. Prepare the zucchini and summer squash for roasting. Thoroughly wash your produce. Slice the ends of the zucchini and squash, cut lengthwise and slice into half moons.

Step 2 – Place the cut zucchini and summer squash in a sided sheet pan. Mix with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, 1 tablespoon of Herbs de Provence (I get mine at Trader Joe’s), and Salt & Pepper.

Special Tip: Metal pans will cook faster than ceramic.

Step 3 – Roast vegetables for 15 minutes. Stir. Then roast for another 15 minutes, or until the vegetables are cooked through and golden.

Step 4 – Cook the orzo. You can follow the directions on the package, but this is how I cooked our orzo for this recipe. Bring 2 quarts of water to a rapid boil, add a teaspoon of salt and gradually add 1 cup of Orzo. Stir gently and return to a rapid boil. Cook uncovered for 8-10 minutes. Drain and season to taste.

Special tip: You may want to add 1 tablespoon of olive oil to the orzo to keep it from sticking together. I always do this with pasta dishes.

Step 5 – In a large bowl, mix the orzo and roasted vegetables together.

Step 6 – Season with additional salt and pepper to taste. Top with chopped flat leaf parsley and shavings of parmesan cheese.

The mix of dried and fresh herbs is wonderful and cozy. It’s such a simple dish but tastes a lot more complex than it is. My favorite is having it straight from the pot, the warm vegetables and orzo melts the thin parmesan and it feels very decadent.

I hope you enjoy it as much as we do! It’s a nice quick week night meal but also great to impress friends at a potluck!

You might also like these cozy recipes:

Creamy Enchiladas

Double Chocolate Chip Cookies

Healthy Butternut Squash Soup

Be sure to visit all my friends for more Cozy Living Ideas:

Why Fall is Best Season to Enjoy Gardens / Roasted Summer Squash with Orzo / How to Press Flowers in Microwave / How to Hang Onto Summer

September in the City / How to Knit Kitchen Dish Cloth / Fall Dining Table