One-Pan Leek and Orzo Risotto

During my cancer journey, I realized that food wasn’t just about fuel, it was about comfort, connection, and finding little moments of joy. One of those moments came when a fellow cancer survivor in my support group shared this One-Pan Leek and Orzo Risotto recipe with me. She told me it was her go-to meal when energy was low because it was simple, cosy, and easy on the stomach.

The first time I made it, I totally got it. The leeks turn soft and buttery, melting into the orzo to create a creamy, moorish dish. And the best part was it all comes together in just one pan... because let’s be real, no one wants to deal with a pile of dishes!

This dish quickly became a favourite in my kitchen, and now I’m excited to share it with you. I hope it brings you the same warmth and comfort it brought me and my family.

Ingredients:

3 leeks, thinly sliced
1 knob of butter
1 heaped tsp fennel seeds
1 heaped tsp smoked chili flakes
1 cup of orzo
1 vegetable stock cubes
1 tbs nutritional yeast flakes
2 cups of boiling water
50g parmesan, grated
1 parmesan rind (optional, but adds great flavour!)
Salt & pepper to taste
Olive oil

Instructions:

Heat a little olive oil and the butter in a large pan over medium heat. Add the fennel seeds and smoked chili flakes, stirring for a few seconds until fragrant.
Add the sliced leeks and cook, stirring occasionally, until they soften and become silky.
Stir in the orzo, then pour in the boiling water with the dissolved vegetable stock cubes. Drop in the parmesan rind if using and add the nutritional yeast flakes. Let it simmer for about 10 minutes, stirring now and then.
Once most of the liquid is absorbed, stir in the grated parmesan until creamy. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

💬 It’s simple, delicious, and pure comfort in a bowl. If you give it a try, add your comment to let me know what you think!

Comments

Welcome to My Journey: Finding Strength Through Sharing

Hey there, and welcome to My World My Life , my little corner of the internet. After what felt like an endless process, I’ve finally moved all my old blog posts from their outdated home to this fresh new space. It wasn’t easy, balancing this with treatment, work, and family life, but with a little help from my family, I made sure every post made it over intact. No missing entries, no broken links (because let’s be honest, that totally would have happened). Now that everything is in place, I couldn’t be more excited for what’s ahead. This blog isn’t just about sharing my journey; it’s about creating a space where we can connect, support one another, and navigate life’s unexpected twists together. One of those twists came in the form of breast cancer. One moment, I was going about my usual routine, and the next, I was sitting in a doctor’s office, hearing words that didn’t feel real. In an instant, my world flipped upside down. My days became a whirlwind of appointments, treatments, and ...

Redefining Life After Cancer: My Journey to a New Normal

In 2023, my world - and my family’s - was completely turned upside down with my breast cancer diagnosis. It was the year my biggest dream came true when we bought our house. And it was the year my worst nightmare became reality when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Two life-altering events, colliding at the same time. But it wasn’t just life that changed... I will never return to the person I was before cancer. Sometime I grieve that version of me, the one who lived without this constant awareness of mortality. I thought I understood that life was finite, but there’s a difference between knowing it in theory and feeling it in your bones every day. The fear of recurrence or the cancer spreading isn’t just an abstract worry; it’s a shadow that lingers, a rational dread because cancer doesn’t play by the rules. It can return or spread at any time. And that reality is something I have to learn to live with. The idea of a “happily ever after” shattered in an instant. Moving into our new ...

Navigating Work and Life While Managing Breast Cancer

When cancer enters your life, it feels like a sudden storm, disrupting every aspect of your existence with its demands and emotional toll. Yet, despite the overwhelming nature of such a diagnosis, it doesn't have to completely define your existence. Maintaining some semblance of normal life, be it through work, relationships, or hobbies, can be a source of strength and continuity. However, everyone's experience with cancer is uniquely theirs. While some might find their daily routines and priorities wholly transformed, others, like myself, strive to weave treatment into an existing tapestry of responsibilities. The role of a support system, mental health resources, and personal perspective cannot be understated in navigating these challenges. My own journey took a dramatic turn right before my surgery for breast cancer, requiring me to step back from a demanding job as Head of Delivery at the Greater London Authority. It wasn't just about taking time off; my role demanded a...

MyWorldMyLife

Search This Blog