Cheesy Spinach Orzo Pasta Sides

Use orzo pasta to make a delicious side dish with spinach and Parmesan cheese that your family will be sure to enjoy with almost any meal.

One of the food items I’m always the worst at is trying to come up with side dishes to go with our meals. I get so focused on the main dish that I forget about anything else. I love orzo pasta and have made a few meals with it before. We planned for Cheesy Spinach Orzo to be the main dish one night. It ended up working better as a side item.

Orzo is so versatile because it’s the size and shape of rice but still tastes like pasta. I have only made a few recipes with it and enjoyed every one of them. The trick is to get the orzo cooked just right. Since it’s so small it’s easy to overcook, make sure to keep a close eye on it while it boils.

Until I had made Chicken Orzo Pasta with Vegetables, most of my extended family had never had orzo. All the women were here to visit earlier this year and thoroughly enjoyed those leftovers. Now, we all have made a few recipes with orzo in it.

Step by Step

Each brand of orzo is slightly different, so start by cooking the orzo as directed on the package. Typically, you are just boiling the pasta in water for a set amount of time, usually about 10 minutes. Stir it occasionally, so the orzo doesn’t stick to the pan, then drain in a colander. Remember, the pieces are small, so you need a small-slotted strainer for this. My regular spaghetti one has too large of holes, so I use a mesh strainer.

You need to act quickly when making this, so nothing sticks to the pan. Before you start, measure the ingredients. This allows you to move quickly when adding the ingredients.

Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium heat and add the minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Cook these for about a minute, until the garlic is fragrant.

Add the flour and whisk this into the oil mixture, then stir in enough milk to whisk the flour until there are no lumps. I find about 1/4 to 1/2 of the milk is enough for this. Once there are no lumps, continue to whisk in the rest of the milk.

Bring this to a simmer and cook for about 6-8 minutes. The sauce will start to thicken.

Pour in the spinach and cook for a few minutes until it has wilted.

Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the parmesan cheese until it melts. Add the orzo to the sauce. Stir gently until it is coated. Garnish with extra parmesan cheese or spinach leaves and serve your Cheesy Spinach Orzo immediately.

Recipe

Cheesy Spinach Orzo Pasta Sides

Use orzo pasta to make a delicious side dish with spinach and Parmesan cheese that your family will be sure to enjoy with almost any meal.

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes minutes

Total Time 30 minutes minutes

Course:

Side Dish

Cuisine:

American

Keyword:

orzo

|

pasta

|

spinach

Servings: 4 cups

4.72 from 7 votes

Ingredients

• 16 oz orzo pasta
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic (minced)
• salt and pepper (to taste)
• 2 tsp all-purpose flour
• 1 cup milk
• 2/3 cup spinach (chopped)
• 1/2 cup parmesan cheese (shredded)

Recommended Equipment

• Saucepan – Medium
• Mesh Strainer
• Garlic Press
• Whisk – Nylon

Instructions

• Cook orzo pasta as directed
• Meanwhile, heat olive oil in medium pot and add minced garlic, salt, and pepper
• Cook about 1 minute, until garlic is fragrant
• Add flour and whisk until combined
• Slowly add milk while whisking to eliminate lumps
• Simmer for about 6-8 minutes until the sauce starts to thicken
• Mix in spinach and cook for a few minutes until it wilts
• Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the parmesan cheese until it’s melted
• Add the orzo to the sauce and stir to coat
• Garnish with extra parmesan cheese and serve immediately

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Nutrition Facts

Cheesy Spinach Orzo Pasta Sides

Amount Per Serving (0.5 cup)

Calories 288 Calories from Fat 63

% Daily Value*

Fat 7g11%

Saturated Fat 2g10%

Cholesterol 7mg2%

Sodium 119mg5%

Potassium 186mg5%

Carbohydrates 45g15%

Fiber 2g8%

Sugar 3g3%

Protein 11g22%

Vitamin A 333IU7%

Vitamin C 1mg1%

Calcium 124mg12%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutrition content will vary based on brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes, and more.

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