Description
A comforting quick meal featuring creamy spinach and orzo pasta.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup orzo pasta
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 cups fresh spinach, chopped
- 1 cup vegetable broth
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- In a large pot, bring salted water to a boil and cook the orzo according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- In the same pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté for 1-2 minutes, or until fragrant.
- Add the chopped spinach to the pot and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently, until wilted.
- Pour in the vegetable broth and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat and stir in the heavy cream, allowing it to heat through.
- Add the cooked orzo to the pot and mix well. Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until melted and creamy. Season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes if using.
- Serve warm, garnished with fresh parsley.
Notes
- For a lighter version, you can substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or a non-dairy cream.
- This dish can be easily customized by adding other vegetables like peas or bell peppers.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 1g
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Carbohydrates: 26g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 10g
- Cholesterol: 45mg