Suitable from 12+ months and a family favourite
Chorizo is one of my favourite ingredients to cook with. It has the most delicious flavour which passes onto all of the other ingredients throughout the dish, making a truly mouth watering family meal. This is an all in one easy family meal, perfect for everyone from young children and toddlers to adults.
Chorizo can be quite a strong flavour, so by grating the chorizo and frying it in a little oil before adding the vegetables, it makes the whole delicious smokey flavour run through the dish without it being too overpowering for younger members of the family.
As chorizo has a high sodium content this recipe isn't suitable for young babies under the age of 12 months as weaning babies between the ages of 6-12 months should have no added salt in their diet. The good news is they won't have to wait too long to enjoy this recipe. A little bit of chorizo goes a long way so you don't need an awful lot for this recipe, however if you are concerned, then just half the amount of chorizo - it will still be a delicious family meal!
You can add any vegetables you would prefer to this dish, including whatever you have leftover in the fridge so it's also a great recipe to prevent any food waste. This is what I did as I had an aubergine, some baby corn, half a pepper and half an onion which needed using up! I love the addition of aubergine in this recipe - it works really well with the chorizo and the baby corn gives it that little bit of crunch.
You can of course use a different type of pasta in this recipe - pick whichever your family's favourite is. I'm a big fan of orzo pasta as I believe it is great for younger children.
If you like the look of this recipe then you should also try out this cod and chorizo paella which is a simple family meal and is a sure way to get those fussy eaters eating their fish.
If you are looking for a comforting family meal perfect for all of the seasons then give this chorizo and veggie orzo a go - you will have the whole family coming back for seconds - even the fussy eaters!
Serves 4
Chorizo and Veggie Orzo
Ingredients
100g chorizo
1 aubergine
40g baby corn
1 bell pepper (any colour)
1 red onion
1 tsp oregano
1 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
120g cream cheese
2 garlic cloves crushed
Method
Remove the skin of the chorizo and grate it before frying in a little olive oil for a few minutes
Add the vegetables to the pan mix mix everything well, then add the paprika, oregano, and garlic. Sauté for around 5-10 minutes until the vegetables have softened
Meanwhile, cook the orzo according to the packets instructions and reserve 50ml of the pasta water
Mix the orzo and the reserved pasta water into the pan and mix well, before stirring in the cream cheese
Add a little salt and pepper to taste if desired and serve
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