Spinach Parmesan Orzo
Creamy spinach parmesan orzo is a comforting dish featuring orzo in a Parmesan cream sauce with fresh baby spinach. It's a simple, but tasty side dish or vegetarian main meal.
Servings: 4
Calories: 304kcal
Ingredients
- 4 tbsp butter divided
- 1 cup uncooked orzo pasta
- 1 3/4 cups chicken broth
- 1 1/2 tbsp minced garlic
- 3-4 cups fresh baby spinach
- 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in a medium skillet over medium high heat and add 1 cup orzo. Stir until the orzo is lightly browned/toasted. Add the chicken broth and bring to a boil. Cover. Reduce heat and simmer for about 15 minutes until the orzo is tender and the liquid is absorbed.4 tbsp butter, 1 cup uncooked orzo pasta, 1 3/4 cups chicken broth
- While the orzo is simmering it is a good time to prepare the spinach. In a large skillet melt 2 tablespoons of butter. Add 1 tablespoon minced garlic and saute for about 30 seconds. Add 10 ounces of baby spinach and a pinch of salt. Saute until wilted. Set aside until orzo is done.1 1/2 tbsp minced garlic, 3-4 cups fresh baby spinach, salt and pepper
- When orzo is done add the spinach and 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese and mix well. Give it a taste and adjust the seasonings as needed. The Parmesan will add some saltiness to the dish, so be sure to give it a taste to ensure you don’t add too much salt!1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
Notes
- Don't add too much salt. The Parmesan cheese and broth both add saltiness.
- A little squeeze of lemon juice would make this nice and bright.
- Make it a full meal and add some shredded rotisserie chicken to this dish or even cooked, crumbled Italian sausage.
Nutrition
Calories: 304kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 41mg | Sodium: 692mg | Potassium: 255mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 2560IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 191mg | Iron: 1mg