Make this rich and flavorful orzo dish featuring garlic, Parmesan cheese, and fresh spinach. It cooks quickly on the stovetop.
Author:Ahazzam
Prep Time:5 min
Cook Time:20 min
Total Time:25 min
Yield:4 servings
Category:Main Dish
Method:Stovetop
Cuisine:Italian Inspired
Diet:Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons butter
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup orzo pasta
3 cups chicken or vegetable broth
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
5 ounces fresh spinach
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Salt to taste
Instructions
Heat the olive oil and butter in a large skillet or pot over medium heat.
Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Do not let the garlic brown.
Add the orzo pasta to the skillet and toast for 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
Pour in the broth. Bring the mixture to a simmer, then reduce the heat to medium-low. Cook, stirring often, for about 10 to 12 minutes, or until the orzo is tender and most of the liquid is absorbed.
Stir in the heavy cream and continue to cook for 2 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly.
Remove the skillet from the heat. Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until melted and the sauce is creamy.
Add the fresh spinach. Stir until the spinach wilts completely into the pasta.
Season with black pepper and salt to your taste.
Serve immediately, topped with extra Parmesan cheese if desired.
Notes
For a richer flavor, use high-quality Parmesan cheese.
If the sauce becomes too thick while resting, add a splash of milk or extra broth to reach your preferred consistency.
You can substitute vegetable broth for chicken broth to make this dish vegetarian.