Description
🧀 A bright Mediterranean bowl featuring crispy lemon‑zested feta, spiced chickpeas, and herb‑infused basil orzo for a satisfying vegetarian feast.
🍋 Ready in just 30 minutes, it delivers bold flavor, protein, and wholesome grains with minimal effort.
Ingredients
– 1 cup Orzo (≈ 180 g)
– 1 tablespoon Butter
– ¼ cup Fresh basil (chopped, ≈ 10 g), plus extra for garnish
– 8 oz Feta cheese (≈ 225 g), sliced ¼-inch thick and patted dry
– 3 tablespoons Cornstarch
– 2 tablespoons + ¼ cup Olive oil (≈ 60 ml)
– 2 × (plus to taste)
– Black pepper to taste
Instructions
1-Start by cooking the orzo according to the package instructions, then drain and mix it with butter and chopped fresh basil for a flavorful base.
2-Next, crisp the feta by placing the cornstarch in a shallow dish and rolling the feta slices until they’re fully coated. Cook them in a skillet with some olive oil for about 1 minute per side until they’re golden and crisp on the outside, then transfer to a plate.
3-For the chickpea-zucchini mix, use the same skillet to add the remaining olive oil, then toss in the canned chickpeas, sliced garlic, paprika, red-pepper flakes, and a pinch of salt. Sauté for around 5 minutes until the chickpeas crisp up, then stir in sliced zucchini, thyme, lemon zest, and sesame seeds. Cook for another 5 minutes until the zucchini gets lightly browned.
4-Make a simple yogurt dressing by combining Greek-style yogurt, lemon juice, grated garlic, and a pinch of salt in a small bowl until smooth. To assemble, spread the yogurt dressing in a shallow serving bowl, top with the butter-basil orzo, crispy feta slices, and the chickpea-zucchini mixture. Finish with fresh herbs for a burst of color and flavor, and serve warm as a hearty vegetarian meal.
Notes
🍋 Pat the feta dry thoroughly before coating to ensure a crisp crust.
🧂 Toss the chickpeas with a pinch of smoked paprika for deeper smoky flavor.
🌿 Add a handful of toasted pine nuts or walnuts for extra crunch and healthy fats.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Pan‑Fry & Boil
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl (approximately 250 g)
- Calories: 813 kcal
- Sugar: 30 g
- Sodium: 3500 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 20 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 70 g
- Fiber: 19 g
- Protein: 58 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg
Keywords: Crispy Feta, Lemon Chickpea Orzo, Mediterranean Orzo, Basil Orzo
