This easy Greek Cypriot pasta by Jamie Oliver is a quick and delicious meal, packed with ripe tomatoes, garlic, and orzo. The dish is made creamy with halloumi cheese and finished with a sprinkle of fresh parsley. It’s a simple, flavorful option you can easily customize with pantry staples.
Ingredients Needed
- 600g (21 oz) large ripe tomatoes
- 2 cloves of garlic
- ½ a bunch of flat-leaf parsley (15g / 0.5 oz)
- 200g (7 oz) dried orzo
- 40g (1.4 oz) halloumi cheese
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Sea salt and black pepper (to taste)
How To Make Greek Cypriot Pasta
- Prepare the tomatoes: Grate the tomatoes on a plate using the fine side of a box grater, discarding the skin and seeds.
- Cook the garlic and parsley: Peel and slice the garlic. Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large non-stick frying pan over medium heat. Add the garlic and fry for about 3 minutes, or until lightly golden. Finely chop the parsley (stalks and all) and add to the pan. Cook for another 2 minutes.
- Add tomatoes and water: Tip in the grated tomatoes and 500ml (2 cups) of water. Bring the mixture to the boil and cook for a few minutes.
- Cook the pasta: Add the orzo and cook for about 14 minutes, stirring regularly. If the sauce thickens too much, add splashes of water to loosen.
- Add halloumi: Coarsely grate most of the halloumi and stir it through the pasta. Season with sea salt and black pepper to taste.
- Serve: Grate the remaining halloumi over the dish, scatter with parsley leaves, and drizzle with extra virgin olive oil, if desired.
Recipe Tips
- Grate the tomatoes carefully: Be sure to remove all the skin and seeds for a smooth sauce. This helps avoid a chunky texture and ensures a rich, flavorful base.
- Stir the pasta regularly: Stir the orzo occasionally while cooking to prevent it from sticking to the pan. This will also help the pasta absorb the sauce better.
- Adjust the sauce thickness: If the sauce gets too thick while cooking, add a little extra water to loosen it up. This will keep the pasta well-coated and prevent it from becoming dry.
- Don’t overcook the pasta: Orzo cooks quickly. Keep an eye on it and taste test around 12 minutes to make sure it’s just tender, not mushy.
How To Store And Reheat Leftovers?
- Refrigerate: Let the leftover Greek Cypriot pasta cool to room temperature. Once cooled, store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.
- Freeze: Allow the pasta to cool completely before freezing. Store in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 1 month. When ready to eat, thaw in the fridge overnight reheating.
- Reheat: Place the pasta in a pan over medium heat. Stir occasionally and add a little water to help loosen the sauce. Heat for about 5-7 minutes, or until warmed through.
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 1 serving (based on recipe serving 2)
- Calories: 559
- Total Fat: 19.7g
- Saturated Fat: 5.6g
- Total Carbohydrate: 80.3g
- Dietary Fiber: 5.7g
- Sugars: 10.1g
- Protein: 18.9g
Try More Jamie Oliver Recipes:
- Jamie Oliver Sausage Pasta Bake
- Jamie Oliver Ravioli Pasta Recipe
- Jamie Oliver Gorgonzola Pasta
- Jamie Oliver Mackerel Pasta
Jamie Oliver Greek Cypriot Pasta
Description
This easy Greek Cypriot pasta by Jamie Oliver is a quick and delicious meal, packed with ripe tomatoes, garlic, and orzo. The dish is made creamy with halloumi cheese and finished with a sprinkle of fresh parsley. It’s a simple, flavorful option you can easily customize with pantry staples.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Prepare the tomatoes: Grate the tomatoes on a plate using the fine side of a box grater, discarding the skin and seeds.
- Cook the garlic and parsley: Peel and slice the garlic. Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large non-stick frying pan over medium heat. Add the garlic and fry for about 3 minutes, or until lightly golden. Finely chop the parsley (stalks and all) and add to the pan. Cook for another 2 minutes.
- Add tomatoes and water: Tip in the grated tomatoes and 500ml (2 cups) of water. Bring the mixture to the boil and cook for a few minutes.
- Cook the pasta: Add the orzo and cook for about 14 minutes, stirring regularly. If the sauce thickens too much, add splashes of water to loosen.
- Add halloumi: Coarsely grate most of the halloumi and stir it through the pasta. Season with sea salt and black pepper to taste.
- Serve: Grate the remaining halloumi over the dish, scatter with parsley leaves, and drizzle with extra virgin olive oil, if desired.
Notes
- Grate the tomatoes carefully: Be sure to remove all the skin and seeds for a smooth sauce. This helps avoid a chunky texture and ensures a rich, flavorful base
- Stir the pasta regularly: Stir the orzo occasionally while cooking to prevent it from sticking to the pan. This will also help the pasta absorb the sauce better.
- Adjust the sauce thickness: If the sauce gets too thick while cooking, add a little extra water to loosen it up. This will keep the pasta well-coated and prevent it from becoming dry.
- Don’t overcook the pasta: Orzo cooks quickly. Keep an eye on it and taste test around 12 minutes to make sure it’s just tender, not mushy.
Jamie Oliver Greek Cypriot Pasta