Vegan Mushroom Orzo Recipe
A creamy and flavorful vegan mushroom orzo dish featuring sautéed baby bella mushrooms and shallots, cooked to perfection in an Instant Pot with savory herbs and vegetable broth. This comforting and hearty meal is quick to prepare and perfect for a satisfying plant-based dinner.
- Author: lina
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Instant Pot Pressure Cooking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Mushrooms and Aromatics
- 16 oz sliced baby bella mushrooms
- 2 shallots, diced
- 2 tbsp vegan butter
Orzo and Broth
- 1 cup dry orzo
- 2 cups vegetable broth
Seasonings
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp oregano
- ½ tsp parsley
- ½ tsp thyme
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- Prepare ingredients: Wash the baby bella mushrooms thoroughly and pat them dry using a paper towel to remove excess moisture. Peel and dice the shallots into small pieces to ensure even cooking and flavor distribution.
- Sauté vegetables: Turn on the Instant Pot to Sauté mode and add the vegan butter. Once melted, add the sliced mushrooms and diced shallots along with all the spices: garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, parsley, thyme, salt, and black pepper. Stir frequently and cook until the shallots are translucent and the mushrooms have reduced in size and turned golden brown, about 5-7 minutes.
- Add orzo and broth: Turn off the Sauté mode. Add the dry orzo directly into the Instant Pot with the sautéed mushrooms. Pour in the vegetable broth, ensuring the orzo is fully submerged in the liquid.
- Pressure cook: Seal the Instant Pot lid and set the pressure cooking mode to High for 2 minutes. The pot will take approximately 10-12 minutes to come up to pressure before the cooking time starts. Once the timed cooking is complete, carefully perform a quick release of the pressure.
- Finish cooking and serve: Open the lid and check that the orzo is al dente. If any liquid remains, switch back to Sauté mode and cook, stirring frequently, until the excess liquid evaporates and the orzo is creamy. Serve immediately, optionally topped with vegan cheese or fresh lemon zest for added brightness and flavor.
Notes
- Be sure to stir often while sautéing mushrooms to prevent sticking or burning.
- You can replace vegetable broth with homemade or low-sodium broth for a healthier option.
- For added richness, stir in a splash of plant-based cream or nutritional yeast before serving.
- Adjust seasoning to taste, adding more salt or herbs as preferred.
- This recipe can be made on the stovetop by simmering orzo and mushrooms together in a covered pan until the orzo is tender.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 230
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 480 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
Keywords: vegan mushroom orzo, instant pot orzo recipe, plant-based dinner, vegan comfort food, mushroom pasta alternative