CREAMY GARLIC SPINACH ORZO

 CREAMY GARLIC SPINACH ORZO

This side dish brings instant comfort. I made it without spinach first so my husband and daughter would love that. Next time around, I added spinach for the added health benefits.

 

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
• 2 cups (packed) fresh baby spinach
• 2 cups chicken or vegetable broth
• 1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1 cup heavy/whipping cream
• 1/2 medium onion chopped
• 1 cup uncooked orzo pasta
• 4 cloves garlic minced
• Salt & pepper to taste
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 tablespoons butter

 

Instructions:

1. Add the oil, butter, and onion to a pot over medium-high heat. Sauté the onion for 3-4 minutes.
2. Add the garlic, Italian seasoning, and orzo. Cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring often (this infuses the orzo with more flavor and toasts it a bit).
3. Stir in the chicken broth and cream. Once it starts to bubble, continue cooking for 10 minutes, stirring fairly often. You will likely need to turn the heat down a bit (to medium or even medium-low). You want it to gently bubble vs. furiously boil, and you don't want the liquid to reduce too much before the pasta has cooked.
4. Take the pot off the heat, stir in the parmesan and spinach, and cover the pot for 3-5 minutes or until it has thickened up to your liking. The orzo will absorb the liquid quickly, so if it still seems like there's too much liquid, just wait a little bit longer. Season with salt & pepper as needed. Enjoy your healthy food!