Elegant Orzo with Wilted Spinach Feta and Pine Nuts
Elevate your mealtime with this luxurious yet simple *Elegant Orzo with Wilted Spinach, Feta, and Pine Nuts*. This Mediterranean-inspired dish is a perfect combination of tender orzo pasta, sautéed garlic, and wilted baby spinach, all brought to life with the tangy brightness of lemon zest and juice. Finished with creamy crumbled feta cheese and toasted pine nuts for a delightful crunch, this recipe is a symphony of textures and flavors. Ready in just 25 minutes, it’s an ideal choice for a quick but impressive side dish or light vegetarian entrée. Serve it warm or at room temperature and watch it steal the spotlight at any gathering! Keywords: elegant orzo, spinach and feta pasta, Mediterranean recipes, quick side dishes, vegetarian orzo recipe.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 1 cup orzo pasta
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic
- 4 cups baby spinach
- 1 cup feta cheese
- 2 tablespoons pine nuts
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 0.5 teaspoon salt
- 0.25 teaspoon black pepper
- 4 cups water or chicken broth (for cooking orzo)
Instructions
Bring 4 cups of water or chicken broth to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add the orzo pasta and cook for 8-10 minutes, or until al dente. Drain and set aside.
While the orzo is cooking, heat a dry skillet over medium heat. Add the pine nuts and toast them for 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently, until golden and fragrant. Remove from the skillet and set aside.
In the same skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
Add the baby spinach to the skillet and sauté for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the spinach has wilted.
Turn off the heat and stir the cooked orzo into the skillet with the spinach. Add the lemon zest, lemon juice, salt, and black pepper, mixing well to combine.
Crumble the feta cheese over the orzo mixture and sprinkle the toasted pine nuts on top.
Serve warm or at room temperature as a side dish or light entree. Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
376 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 18.4 g | 24% | |
| Saturated Fat | 7.1 g | 36% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1.5 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 33 mg | 11% | |
| Sodium | 687 mg | 30% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 41.6 g | 15% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 3.0 g | 11% | |
| Total Sugars | 1.9 g | ||
| Protein | 13.1 g | 26% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.4 mcg | 2% | |
| Calcium | 229 mg | 18% | |
| Iron | 2.6 mg | 15% | |
| Potassium | 117 mg | 2% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
