Elegant Orzo With Wilted Spinach, Feta and Pine Nuts

Submitted by kiwidutch

"This dish is so Yummy, especially if you love orzo like we do! COOKS NOTE: I like to use more garlic, and spinach, but I will leave that up to you. I also add roasted red peppers and even Pancetta!Please note: this is an adopted recipe and I hope to make it soonest. If you make it before I do, I would appreciate feedback, Thanks ! ZWT REGION: Italy."

 

• Ready In: 30mins
• Ingredients: 13
• Serves: 6

ingredients

• 453.59 g package uncooked orzo pasta
• 78.78 ml olive oil
• 29.58 ml butter
• 2.46 ml minced garlic
• 2.46 ml dried basil
• 2.46 ml crushed red pepper flakes
• 236.59 ml pine nuts
• 283.49 g bag Baby Spinach
• 29.57 ml balsamic vinegar
• 226.79 g package crumbled feta cheese
• 1 fresh tomato, chopped
• kosher salt
• ground pepper

directions

1. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes. (Firm or slightly undercooked orzo works best for this dish.) Drain, transfer to a mixing bowl, and set aside.
2. Heat olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium high heat, stirring to blend.
3. Stir in garlic, basil, and red pepper flakes, and reduce heat to medium. Stir in pine nuts and cook until lightly browned.
4. Add spinach, cover, and cook on low heat for 5 minutes, or until spinach is wilted.
5. Toss spinach mixture with orzo pasta. Portion onto serving plates with a drizzle of balsamic vinegar and a sprinkling of crumbled feta cheese and chopped tomatoes.
6. Allow guests to adjust seasoning with salt and pepper, as needed. Enjoy!

Reviews

[jcrozier]

Nice flavor combination. I used Gluten Free Annelinni (a tiny round noodle). It was good even without the vinegar (I forgot it and added later). This recipe makes a lot!

 

[breezermom]

Super recipe! I didn't post my photo because it is night time and I had to use my flash...it was just too bright on orzo. But this is one of the best recipes I have made in quite a long time! I will definitely make this again. I questioned the lack of salt, but with the feta and balsamic vinegar, it is perfection. Thanks so much for posting this fabulous recipe. I made this for Everyday is a Holiday tag!

 

[CIndytc]

Wow, 5 stars to be sure...this was an awesome recipe...made this with the colored orzo and how pretty it was...served seared scallops on top....great fancy dish for company....

 

[JoJoStar]

This recipe was good, I used fresh basil in place of the dried as well. I also left out the pine nuts as they are not one of my favorites. My family and I enjoyed this recipe, made for help-a-camera-less chef.

 

[nott2339]

Absolutely wonderful! I made a half recipe and used only 2 tablespoons of olive oil and no butter. I used 1/4 cup of chopped pecans instead of pine nuts. This dish is devine! Thank you for such an inspirational recipe.