Orzo and Spinach Sort of Romano's Macaroni Grill Style

Submitted by Chef #396380

"Tasty and versatile side dish and leftovers are great hot or cold."

 

• Ready In: 23mins
• Ingredients: 12
• Serves: 4-6

ingredients

• 4 ounces julienne-shredded fresh spinach
• 1⁄2 small julienne-cut radicchio
• 1⁄4 cup pine nuts, lightly toasted
• 1⁄3 cup sun-dried tomato packed in oil, julienne cut
• 2 tablespoons capers
• 3 tablespoons sliced nicoise olives
• 4 ounces orzo pasta, cooked al dente and drained (1/2 box of Barilla)
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 1⁄4 cup small lemon, juice and zest of, if not using Meyer lemons you might need less juice
• 1⁄4 cup olive oil, not extra virgin
• 1⁄3 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
• fresh cracked pepper

directions

1. Directions:

2. Heat the olive oil.
3. Add the garlic and give it a few tosses.don't let the garlic brown.
4. Add the zest and lemon juice.
5. Toss in the spinach and radicchio and cook until just wilted.
6. Remove from heat and add the orzo and the rest of the ingredients except the cheese.
7. Toss and fluff.
8. Now is the time to taste for salt (remember the cheese will add salt as well).
9. Sprinkle with cheese to coat.
10. Garnish with a sweep of parsley.
11. Serve with crusty bread and extra bowls of parmesan.
12. You can add shrimp or julienned chicken breast.
13. White wine can be subbed for lemon juice.
14. This is also great chilled and served as a salad or on a round of Hye Roller spread with herbed cream cheese and rolled then sliced into spirals. Also good in a hollowed out crusty roll layered with a vinaigrette,Fontina or favorite cheese,sliced tomato,ham,turkey,salami,capicola,mortadella etc. for a quasi-Muffaletta.
15. You can also toss the leftovers in with some chicken stock,stewed tomatoes,white wine,basil,cabbage,carrots,and more spinach. Garnish with parmesan croustades for a sort of spin on Ribollita.
16. 15 mn. prep includes cooking and draining the orzo.

Reviews

[TallyKat]

Wonderful side dish to lamb!!

 

[ljanesmith6275]

Too much oil,,,too little lemon

 

[Christine M.]

This is just like the Macaroni Grill recipe! My son doesn’t care for radicchio so I substituted with red cabbage (just add a little extra wilting time). Used Kalamata olives because I didn’t have nicoise. This is a regular staple in my “What do I make for dinner!?!” repertoire. All three of my kids eat it giving this short order cook a bit of a break!

 

[Karen B.]

This is very good. But I'm just guessing at how much lemon juice this recipe calls for. It says: " 1/4 juice and small lemon, zest." 1/4 what?

 

[laura m.]

Delicious. I excluded the olives cause I dont like them but im sure they'd be a delicious addition if you like olives. I also left out the parm cheese and used escorale instead of radichio cause it's what I had. Even with the changes the recipe was still delicious