Bacon and Leek Orzo
This Bacon and Leek Orzo is a weeknight one pot pasta option I go back to time and time again. Delicious and creamy, it’s super easy to make and takes about 40 minutes in total.
Servings: 4
Ingredients
- 200 g Streaky bacon Chopped
- 1 tbsp Olive oil
- 2 Leeks Thinly sliced
- 400 g Orzo
- 1 litre Hot vegetable stock
- 150 g Garlic and herb soft cheese We like Boursin
- 1 Lemon Zest and juice
- 15 g Parsley Finely chopped
- Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Cook the bacon and leek: Add the streaky bacon to a large wide pan over a medium high heat and cook for 5-10 minutes until crispy, then remove the bacon with a slotted spoon, making sure you leave the fat behind.
- Cook the leeks in the bacon fat for 5 minutes until softened (adding a splash of oil if you need it) then stir through the orzo.
- All in to simmer: Pour in the hot vegetable stock and bring to a simmer. Pop a lid on the pan and cook for 10-15 minutes, stirring often, until the orzo is cooked through. (Add a splash more stock if needed, you don’t want it to be too dry.)
- Stir in to finish: Stir in the soft cheese, lemon zest and juice, and season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Sprinkle the crispy bacon and parsley over the top and serve.
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Notes
How to stop sticking: One trick is to stir it often so it doesn’t stick to the bottom, and use a large non-stick pan.
Stock quantity: The hot stock quantity in the recipe here says to use 1 litre, but this is for guidance. Always make sure you have a little more water to hand to add in if you think the sauce is thickening quicker than it takes for your orzo to cook, and make sure you add just a little at a time.
Leeks: If you’re using fresh, thinly slice these and carefully wash them (they tend to be very gritty). Alternatively, use frozen leeks which tend to be pre-chopped. This is such a midweek time saver!
Cream cheese: I love to use Boursin for the recipe as it really elevates it, but regular garlic and herb soft cheese is fine too.
❗️COOKING TIME: The cooking time for this can vary a lot depending on your pan. Always go by how well cooked your orzo is rather than by the clock.
Nutrition
Calories: 579kcal | Carbohydrates: 88g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 20mg | Sodium: 2145mg | Potassium: 424mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 1794IU | Vitamin C: 13mg | Calcium: 108mg | Iron: 3mg