Anna Barnett
Ingredients
1 tin cherry tomatoes (save tin and refill with water x2)
7/10 sun-dried tomatoes
3 shallots, peeled – halved
rind of Grana Padano – cleaned, left whole to poach in sauce, cut into bitesize pieces to serve
3 strips of lemon rind (save lemon and add juice before serving)
several sprigs of fresh thyme
50g butter
800-900ml water
generous sprinkle of sea salt flakes
several turns of freshly ground black pepper
pinch or two of chilli flakes
300g orzo
35g finely grated Grana Padano
juice of half a lemon
several generous glugs of extra virgin olive oil
extra Grana Padano to serve, shavings work well
Preparation
Take a medium to large heavy based pan or casserole dish and add in the tinned cherry tomatoes, sun dried tomatoes, halved shallots, Grana Padano rind, lemon rind, fresh thyme butter and water. Cover and gently bring to the boil, cooking for around 10 minutes. Remove the lid, add seasoning and chilli to suit your taste followed by the orzo.
Stir and cover, allowing the pasta to cook for between 7-9 minutes (depending on how much bite you like to your pasta. I usually opt for around 7-8 minutes as it continues to cook in the residual heat once removed from the stove). Ensure you stir every 3 or so minutes to avoid the pasta from sticking to the pan.
Before serving add in the finely grated zest of half a lemon plus its juice (use your hand to catch any pips) add in your finely grated Grana Padano stirring until it melts. Finish with a good glug of extra virgin olive oil. Once plated add a couple of extra shavings of Grana Padano.
