Charred Cauliflower, Lemon & Caper Orzo Recipe
A vibrant and flavorful dish featuring charred cauliflower florets combined with lemony, caper-infused orzo pasta, finished with fresh rocket leaves. This quick and easy recipe offers a delightful balance of smoky, tangy, and fresh notes, making it perfect for a light lunch or side dish.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Grilling and Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables and Garnishes
- ½ cauliflower, broken into florets, stalk chopped into cubes
- 1 small garlic clove, sliced
- ½ lemon, zested and juiced
- handful of rocket leaves, to serve
Dry Ingredients
- 100g orzo
- 2 tsp capers, drained and rinsed
Liquids and Oils
- 2 tsp olive oil
- 100ml low-salt vegetable stock (check it’s vegan, if required)
Instructions
- Grill the Cauliflower: Heat the grill to high. Toss the cauliflower florets and chopped stalk with 1 tsp of olive oil and some seasoning. Spread on a baking tray and grill for 15-20 minutes until the cauliflower is golden, charred, and tender all the way through.
- Cook the Orzo: Meanwhile, bring a pan of salted water to a boil and cook the orzo for 8 minutes, or until al dente. Drain well.
- Sauté Capers and Garlic: In a frying pan, heat the remaining 1 tsp of olive oil. Add the drained capers and sliced garlic, cooking until golden and fragrant.
- Combine Ingredients: Stir the cooked orzo, grilled cauliflower, lemon zest, lemon juice, and vegetable stock into the pan with the capers and garlic. Let the mixture bubble gently for 1 minute to meld the flavors.
- Serve: Spoon half of the orzo and cauliflower mixture into a bowl and top with a handful of fresh rocket leaves. Allow the remaining portion to cool for use as a leftover lunchbox meal.
Notes
- For a delicious leftovers lunchbox, stir in a handful of rocket to the leftover orzo, then top with pitted, halved Kalamata olives, sliced artichokes, and some lemon zest.
- Make sure to use low-salt vegetable stock if watching sodium intake or ensure it is vegan if required.
- Adjust lemon juice to taste for desired tanginess.
- Cauliflower can be grilled under a broiler or on an outdoor grill if preferred.
Keywords: charred cauliflower, lemon orzo, caper orzo, vegetarian side dish, Mediterranean recipe, grilled cauliflower, lemon zest, rocket leaves
