Orzo is light and delicious, and makes for a versatile side dish. But add a refreshing, minty pesto and earthy, grilled corn to orzo… and it becomes a sublime summer pasta!
Orzo with Mint-Walnut Pesto and Grilled Corn
serves 4 to 6
active time: 40 min
- 12 oz (340g) orzo
- sea salt for the pasta water (2 teaspoons)
- extra virgin olive oil
- 4 large ears fresh corn – grilled
- 3/4 cup Mint-Walnut Pesto or to taste
- sea salt to taste
- Step 1: Bring 2 quarts of water to a boil. When the water is boiling, add the salt and the orzo. Cook pasta until tender but still al dente. Drain well and rinse under cold water until pasta is lukewarm. Shake all excess water and place in a large bowl. Drizzle with a little olive oil and stir well (this will prevent the pasta from sticking together).
- Cook’s note: The pasta can be prepared up to 1 hour ahead. Cover with a clean kitchen towel and keep at room temperature until ready to assemble.
- Step 2: Grill the corn as per this recipe. Remove husks from the grilled corn and shave the kernels off the cobs with a sharp or serrated knife. Add the kernels and the mint-walnut pesto to the orzo and stir well. Add sea salt to taste and stir again. Transfer to a serving bowl and serve immediately as a side dish.
- Cook’s note: Assemble the dish just before you serve it, as even with the addition of the vitamin C crystals in the pesto, it will have a tendency to oxidize and turn a bit brown.
Disclaimer: As always, my point of view is my own. I do not accept samples, and have no commercial relationship with any product, food or wine company.
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
beautiful!! I’m trying it this weekend.
This sounds fresh and lovely for a hot summer night’s dinner. The mix of orzo, corn, and pesto looks great.
What an incredible combination of summer flavors!
It’s been a long time since I’ve visited your blog but it’s nice to be back and hope to visit your more often. The recipe sounds great. Very clean and delicious..:)
Great looking orzo recipe! Fresh, clean, and amazing!
i’ve never seen orzo and pesto mixed together. it looks cooling and delicious.
sublime indeed! this would be a great accompaniment for anything from the grill . . .
I like that mint idea!
What a wonderful combo! I just made some orzo recently and didn’t think to add corn. What is it about that shape that is so pleasant? I am feeling I need to eat corn every meal of every day and this is a good place to start!
You have solved my question of what side salad I will be serving for dinner with friends this weekend; thank you :)
This looks great. I have never tried orzo. This is something new to me. I will give it a try. Thanks for sharing.
oh what a great idea!
What a PERFECT salad! I love cooking with orzo and your combination with the walnut pesto and grilled corn is a perfect flavor combination. Enjoy your holiday weekend.
Excellent orzo dish, Viviane. I think today’s Top 9 is one of the best ever, so I wasn’t at all surprised to see this there.
Congrats on the Vegetarian Times article. Kathy (my wife the Salad Queen)has been vegetarian for 25 years. I’m heading out right now to find a copy!
Great pesto! I love the combo of tastes.
Looks delicious!
What a fabulous post! This is a combination of some of my favorite things! I adore mint pesto and orzo is so overlooked!
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