Best 7 Spinach And Basil Orzo Recipes

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Spinach and basil orzo is a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed for lunch or dinner. It's made with orzo pasta, fresh spinach, basil, and a variety of other vegetables. This dish can be easily customized to your liking by adding different ingredients, such as cherry tomatoes, artichoke hearts, or feta cheese. It's also a great way to get your daily dose of vegetables. Whether you're looking for a quick and easy weeknight meal or a more elaborate dish for a special occasion, spinach and basil orzo is sure to please.

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

CREAMY ORZO WITH SPINACH



Creamy Orzo With Spinach image

This colorful pasta dish is a quick weeknight meal.

Provided by Land O'Lakes

Categories     Spinach     Vegetable     Savory     Cooking     Keeping It Simple     Pasta and noodles     Main Course     Vegetable

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 9

8 ounces (1 1/4 cups) uncooked orzo pasta
1/4 cup Land O Lakes® Butter with Olive Oil & Sea Salt
1 1/2 teaspoon finely chopped fresh garlic
1 (6-ounce) package (6 cups) fresh spinach, stems removed
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 1/4 cups shredded Parmesan cheese
1 cup cherry tomatoes, cut in half
1 teaspoon freshly grated lemon zest

Steps:

  • Cook pasta according to package directions; drain. Return to pan; keep warm.
  • Melt 2 tablespoons Butter with Olive Oil & Sea Salt in 10-inch skillet until sizzling. Add garlic; cook, stirring occasionally, 2 minutes. Add spinach, salt and pepper; continue cooking, stirring occasionally, 2-3 minutes or until spinach is wilted. Remove from heat.
  • Add remaining 2 tablespoons Butter with Olive Oil & Sea Salt and 1 cup Parmesan to cooked pasta in pan; stir until combined. Add cooked spinach, tomatoes and lemon zest; mix well. Spoon mixture into serving dish; top with remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan. Serve immediately.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 420 calories, Fat 18 grams, SaturatedFat grams, Transfat grams, Cholesterol 35 milligrams, Sodium 850 milligrams, Carbohydrate 47 grams, Fiber 3 grams, Sugar grams, Protein 19 grams

ORZO WITH SPINACH AND TOMATOES



Orzo with Spinach and Tomatoes image

Provided by Rachael Ray : Food Network

Categories     side-dish

Time 27m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 7

1 pound spinach, washed, dried, stems removed
1 pint grape or cherry tomatoes, halved
2 lemons, zested
1 1/2 cups orzo, cooked to al dente
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, 1 turn of the bowl
24 basil leaves, torn or thinly sliced
Salt and pepper

Steps:

  • Pile spinach leaves in stacks 1 on top of the other. Thinly slice stacks of leaves to make spinach confetti. Pile shredded spinach into the bottom of a medium sized mixing bowl. Halve grape or cherry tomatoes with a paring knife and add them to the mixing bowl. Add the zest of 2 lemons to the bowl and save the lemons in the refrigerator to juice for another recipe. Add hot cooked and drained orzo pasta to the mixing bowl. The heat of the pasta will wilt the spinach and warm the tomatoes at the bottom of the bowl and get the juices flowing from veggies. The heat of the pasta will also release the flavor and oils in the lemon zest. Drizzle 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil over the pasta and toss to combine the veggies and orzo. Add basil and salt and pepper and toss to combine. Taste your orzo to adjust seasonings and serve.

SPINACH AND ORZO SALAD



Spinach and Orzo Salad image

A light, easy-to-make salad that's pleasing to the palate.

Provided by Christine R.

Categories     Salad     100+ Pasta Salad Recipes     Vegetarian Pasta Salad Recipes

Time 1h20m

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 (16 ounce) package uncooked orzo pasta
1 (10 ounce) package baby spinach leaves, finely chopped
½ pound crumbled feta cheese
½ red onion, finely chopped
¾ cup pine nuts
½ teaspoon dried basil
¼ teaspoon ground white pepper
½ cup olive oil
½ cup balsamic vinegar

Steps:

  • Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add orzo and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain and rinse with cold water. Transfer to a large bowl and stir in spinach, feta, onion, pine nuts, basil and white pepper. Toss with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Refrigerate and serve cold.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 490.5 calories, Carbohydrate 49 g, Cholesterol 25 mg, Fat 26.9 g, Fiber 3.3 g, Protein 15.8 g, SaturatedFat 7.3 g, Sodium 349.2 mg, Sugar 6.5 g

SPINACH ORZO SALAD



Spinach Orzo Salad image

This incredibly tasty salad couldn't be any easier to put together, and since it feeds a bunch, you won't have to double the recipe for potlucks or picnics. Chill it for about an hour to bring out all the fresh flavors. Donna Bardocz - Howell, Michigan

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Lunch

Time 30m

Yield 10 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 8

1 package (16 ounces) orzo pasta
6 ounces fresh baby spinach (about 8 cups), finely chopped
3/4 cup finely chopped red onion
3/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
3/4 cup reduced-fat balsamic vinaigrette
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/4 teaspoon white pepper
1/4 cup pine nuts, toasted

Steps:

  • Cook orzo according to package directions. Drain ozo; rinse with cold water and drain well., In a large bowl, combine spinach, onion, cheese and orzo. Mix vinaigrette, basil and pepper; toss gently with spinach mixture. Refrigerate until serving. Stir in pine nuts just before serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 255 calories, Fat 8g fat (2g saturated fat), Cholesterol 5mg cholesterol, Sodium 279mg sodium, Carbohydrate 38g carbohydrate (3g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 8g protein.

SPINACH ORZO



Spinach Orzo image

So-good-for-you orzo, flavored with spinach, carrot, basil and Parmesan, is just the right mix for a tasty dinner fix!

Provided by By Betty Crocker Kitchens

Categories     Entree

Time 37m

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 9

2 teaspoons margarine
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 small carrot, coarsely shredded (1/2 cup)
1 carton (32 oz) Progresso™ chicken broth (4 cups)
2 cups uncooked orzo or rosamarina pasta (12 ounces)
3 cups thinly sliced fresh spinach
3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil leaves or 1 teaspoon dried basil leaves
Salt and pepper to taste

Steps:

  • Melt margarine in 3-quart saucepan over medium heat. Cook garlic and carrot in margarine about 2 minutes, stirring occasionally, until carrot is tender.
  • Stir in broth, pasta and spinach. Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer 15 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until broth is absorbed. Stir in remaining ingredients before serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 160, Carbohydrate 27 g, Cholesterol 0 mg, Fat 1/2, Fiber 2 g, Protein 8 g, SaturatedFat 1 g, ServingSize 1 Serving, Sodium 400 mg

ORZO WITH PARMESAN AND BASIL



Orzo with Parmesan and Basil image

This is a simple recipe that everyone loves. For a quick Mediterranean macaroni and cheese, omit the basil. Easily doubled, too!

Provided by DODIEPAJER

Categories     Side Dish

Time 30m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 7

2 tablespoons butter
1 cup uncooked orzo pasta
1 (14.5 ounce) can chicken broth
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
¼ cup chopped fresh basil
salt and pepper to taste
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil

Steps:

  • Melt butter in heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Stir in orzo and saute until lightly browned.
  • Stir in chicken stock and bring to boil. Cover. Reduce heat and simmer until orzo is tender and liquid is absorbed, about 15 - 20 minutes.
  • Mix in Parmesan cheese and basil. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to shallow bowl. Garnish with basil sprigs.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 298.6 calories, Carbohydrate 42.2 g, Cholesterol 24.1 mg, Fat 9.4 g, Fiber 1.8 g, Protein 11.6 g, SaturatedFat 5.6 g, Sodium 196.7 mg, Sugar 2.4 g

ONE-PAN ORZO WITH SPINACH AND FETA



One-Pan Orzo With Spinach and Feta image

Similar to spanakorizo, a Greek spinach and rice dish, this easy, meatless meal features orzo, spinach, peas and scallions. It is deeply satisfying but still on the lighter side of pasta recipes, thanks to all those vegetables. A little feta gives it creaminess and tang, while some lemon zest brightens everything up. It makes a complete meal on its own, or, if you're looking for something more substantial, serve this as a hearty side dish to roasted meats or fish.

Provided by Melissa Clark

Categories     dinner, easy, pastas, main course

Time 30m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 11

2 tablespoons unsalted butter
4 large scallions, trimmed and thinly sliced
2 large garlic cloves, minced
8 ounces baby spinach leaves (8 cups), coarsely chopped
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 3/4 cups low-sodium chicken or vegetable stock
1 cup orzo
1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest (from 1 lemon)
3/4 cup crumbled feta (3 ounces), plus more for garnish
1/2 cup frozen peas, thawed (optional)
1 cup chopped fresh dill, or use parsley or cilantro

Steps:

  • Heat a 10-inch skillet over medium, then melt butter, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Stir in about three-quarters of the scallions (saving some of the green parts for garnish) and garlic, and cook until softened, stirring frequently, about 3 minutes.
  • Stir in spinach, adding in batches if it doesn't all fit in the pan at once, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until spinach is wilted, about 5 minutes.
  • Stir in stock and bring to a simmer. Stir in orzo, lemon zest and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cover and simmer over medium-low heat until orzo is nearly cooked through and most of the liquid is absorbed, 10 to 14 minutes, stirring once or twice.
  • Stir in cheese, peas (if you like) and dill, cover the pan, and cook for another 1 minute, to finish cooking and warm the peas. To serve, sprinkle with more cheese and the reserved scallions.

Tips:

  • Use fresh, high-quality ingredients. This will make a big difference in the flavor of your dish. Try to find organic spinach and basil if possible.
  • Don't overcook the orzo. It should be cooked al dente, with a slight bite to it.
  • Feel free to experiment with different cheeses. Parmesan is a classic choice, but you could also try feta, goat cheese, or mozzarella.
  • Add a squeeze of lemon juice at the end of cooking. This will brighten up the flavors and make the dish more refreshing.
  • Serve immediately, while the orzo is still hot. This dish is best enjoyed fresh.

Conclusion:

Spinach and basil orzo is a delicious, easy-to-make dish that is perfect for a light lunch or dinner. It's packed with flavor and nutrients, and it's sure to be a hit with your family and friends. So next time you're looking for a new and exciting way to enjoy orzo, give this recipe a try.

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