This one-pot lamb orzo is made in the Instant Pot and is nutritious, flavourful and great when you are short on time!
This recipe was born out of me needing to make a meal for my family from the ingredients I had in the freezer and pantry.
I love using the Instant Pot because it’s virtually hands off. Also, the food usually comes out perfect – especially when you are short on time and don’t have time to save a dish if it doesn’t go to plan!
In this recipe I use New Zealand Lamb Steaks that I buy at my local Aldi supermarket. This is because New Zealand lamb is usually grass fed which means the lamb is organic and the lamb are free to roam on open pastures.
As the liquid in this recipe, I use homemade chicken bone broth. I prefer using this opposed to water because of the nutritional benefits of bone broth such as: it has collagen for healthy skin and bones, it supports healthy digestion and it helps maintain your immune system.
I chose to use orzo as the starch for this recipe and it’s a great choice as it really soaks up the liquid and flavour from the broth, lamb and spices. Though I have not tried this, I think using rice or another type of pasta instead or orzo could work too.
Lamb Orzo Video
Here is the step-by-step guide to make this One-pot lamb orzo:
Tips for making One-pot Lamb Orzo
1. Though I prefer using only chicken bone broth as the liquid, you can use a mixture of bone broth and water or just water as needed.
2. To maximise the flavour of this meal, don’t skip on browning the lamb first before adding the liquid.
3. Adding in vegetables, like cubed carrots or spinach, could be done in this recipe too.
Tips for making Lamb Orzo suitable for Baby Led Weaning
* These recommendations are based on my experience and knowledge as a mum but is not expert advice. Please do your own research to ensure you make informed choices for your baby.
As this meal has added salt, I would suggest not adding salt to the meal while it is cooking. Instead, the salt can be add to the adult portions when serving the meal.
The cooked orzo is usually fat and long when this meal is fully cooked. As it is not round, it is not a choking hazard like peas or grapes. But to be on the safe side, I would slightly flatten the orzo with a back of a fork before serving to baby.
Relating to serving the lamb to baby, the lamb will be succulent being cooked in the liquid. Serving long thick pieces of lamb similar to your pinkie finger will make it easy for baby to pick up themselves and suck on.
How long does the Lamb Orzo keep in the fridge and freezer?
This lamb orzo can keep in the fridge for 5 days and I would suggest re-heating on the stove for maximum enjoyment!
I would not suggest freezing this meal because pasta usually does not do well when frozen and thawed out.
One-pot Lamb Orzo Recipe
1 onion, medium sized
3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
3 pieces (311g) lamb chops
3/4 tsp dried mixed herbs
1 tsp himalayan pink salt
1/4 tsp black pepper, freshly ground
1/2 tsp smoked paprika
1 tbsp crushed garlic
3/4 cup orzo
1/2 cup canned chopped tomatoes
285 ml chicken bone broth
How to make One-pot Lamb Orzo
1. On the lamb sprinkle half of the mixed herbs, pepper and smoked paprika and a quarter of the salt and rub in these seasonings onto the one-side of the lamb.
2. Set the Instant Pot to Normal heat on Sauté mode. Add in the extra virgin olive oil to the Instant Pot. Once hot, sauté the onions with the extra virgin olive oil until the onions start getting translucent.
3. Add in the crushed garlic to the Instant Pot and stir in with the onions and oil for a few seconds.
4. Push the cooked onions and garlic to the sides of the pot and then put the lamb, seasoned side down, into the pot. If needed, add more oil to the Instant pot as you want to seal the lamb and let the lamb get a nice brown colour.
5. While the lamb is cooking on the seasoned side, the unseasoned side will be face up. On this unseasoned side, take the remaining mixed herbs, pepper and smoked paprika and a quarter of the salt and season the lamb and rub in the spices with a spatula or spoon.
6. After 2 minutes, the lamb should be browned and sealed and can then be turned over.
7. Once the lamb is brown on both sides, add the orzo, tomatoes, bone broth and the remainder of the salt to the pot. Mix the ingredients in the pot together and let the liquid come to a simmer. To get the liquid to simmer, increase the temperature on the Sauté mode to ‘More’.
8. Once the liquid is at a simmer, mix all the ingredients together for a final time. Then, turn on the pressure cook mode and set it at high pressure for 12 minutes. Then once done, allow it to natural release for 4 minutes then quick release the pressure.
9. The lid on the Instant Pot can remain on until you are ready to serve the meal.
Tools you may need:
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One Pot Lamb Orzo
This one-pot lamb orzo is made in the Instant Pot and is nutritious, flavourful and great when you are short on time!
Materials
- 1 onion, medium sized
- 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 3 pieces (311g) lamb chops
- 3/4 tsp dried mixed herbs
- 1 tsp himalayan pink salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper, freshly ground
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tbsp crushed garlic
- 3/4 cup orzo
- 1/2 cup canned chopped tomatoes
- 285 ml chicken bone broth
Tools
- Instant Pot
- Measuring Spoons
- Measuring Cups
Instructions
1. On the lamb sprinkle half of the mixed herbs, pepper and smoked paprika and a quarter of the salt and rub in these seasonings onto the one-side of the lamb.
2. Set the Instant Pot to Normal heat on Sauté mode. Add in the extra virgin olive oil to the Instant Pot. Once hot, sauté the
onions with the extra virgin olive oil until the onions start getting translucent.
3. Add in the crushed garlic to the Instant Pot and stir in with the onions and oil for a few seconds.
4. Push the cooked onions and garlic to the sides of the pot and then put the lamb, seasoned side down, into the pot. If needed,
add more oil to the Instant pot as you want to seal the lamb and let the lamb get a nice brown colour.
5. While the lamb is cooking on the seasoned side, the unseasoned side will be face up. On this unseasoned side, take the
remaining mixed herbs, pepper and smoked paprika and a quarter of the salt and season the lamb and rub in the spices with a spatula or spoon.
6. After 2 minutes, the lamb should be browned and sealed and can then be turned over.
7. Once the lamb is brown on both sides, add the orzo, tomatoes, bone broth and the remainder of the salt to the pot. Mix the
ingredients in the pot together and let the liquid come to a simmer. To get the liquid to simmer, increase the temperature on the Sauté mode to 'More'.
8. Once the liquid is at a simmer, mix all the ingredients together for a final time. Then, turn on the pressure cook mode and
set it at high pressure for 12 minutes. Then once done, allow it to natural release for 4 minutes then quick release the pressure.
9. The lid on the Instant Pot can remain on until you are ready to serve the meal.
Notes
1. Though I prefer using only chicken bone broth as the liquid, you can use a mixture of bone broth and water or just water as needed.
2. To maximise the flavour of this meal, don't skip on browning the lamb first before adding the liquid.
3. Adding in vegetables, like cubed carrots or spinach, could be done in this recipe too.
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