Very easy and delicious dish that could be served as a main course with a light green salad, or be part of a Sunday family buffet. The olives and basil add a more Mediterranean flavour. I used a combination of cheeses, feta and mozzarella, but if you would like to use just one, choose feta.
Baked Orzo with Prawns
Very easy and delicious dish that could be served as a main course with a light green salad, or be part of a Sunday family buffet.
Ingredients
- 500 grams orzo
- 4 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 large onion finely chopped
- 4 garlic cloves crushed
- 1 red bell pepper finely chopped
- ½ cup good quality white wine
- 800 grams grated or chopped tomatoes from a can
- 1/8 tsp chilli powder
- ½ tsp dried oregano
- 1-2 sprigs fresh basil leaves
- salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 25 large prawns peeled
- 100 grams black olives pitted and cut in half
- 200 grams feta cheese crumbled
- 200 grams mozzarella cheese coarsely grated
- chilli flakes for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 175° C (345 ℉). In a large pot bring plenty of salted water to boil. Add orzo and cook until «al-dente». Drain orzo but keep ½ cup of the cooking water.
- Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan, over medium heat. Add the onion and cook stirring ocasionally for a couple of minutes. Throw in the garlic and cook for anothe two minutes, or so, until onion is soft. Add the red pepper and cook another 2-3 minutes. Increase heat to high and add the white wine. Let it bubble away for a minute. Add the tomatoes, chilli powder, oregano, basil leaves, salt and freshly ground black pepper. Lower the heat and let sauce simmer uncovered for 5 minutes, until it thickens slightly. Add the prawns to the sauce and cook for 1 minute.
- Take saucepan off the heat and add the olives, feta, the orzo and the ½ cup of cooking water. Mix well and spread in a rectangular ceramic or glass baking pan. Sprinkle with the mozzarella and bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. Let baked orzo stand for 5-10 minutes. Serve with a green salad and sprinkled with chilli flakes.
