Do you ever find yourself staring at some grilled chicken or pork chops wondering what the heck you are going to serve with them? When it comes to side dishes I tend to fall short on ideas, but I’m working on it, starting with this Orzo with Spinach and Roasted Red Peppers.
I think the reason I lack motivation to make side dishes is that I feel like I have to create a whole separate meal and frankly most nights I don’t feel like spending hours in the kitchen creating a four course meal. I’d much rather just toss a salad together and call it good, however my husband has different opinions on the matter. Salad is not man food according to him and neither is soup. He wants something more filling…carbs, carbs, and more carbs!!! If it were up to him pasta would be served with every meal, especially the creamy, cheesy kind. As much as I’d love to do that my waistline and his wouldn’t be appreciative. So, to fix this problem of not wanting to spend much time making a side dish and to give my husband something to look forward to with his chicken other than the same old salad I’ve come up with this Orzo with Spinach and Roasted Red Peppers.
This simple dish is not only easy to make, but flavorful and healthy as well. It only took me 15 minutes to make it, it has whole wheat orzo and healthy spinach in it, and to my husband’s delight a little parmesan cheese! This is definitely a side dish I can get behind!
Once the orzo had cooked the rest of the dish was easy peasy to make. In a small saucepan I heated a couple teaspoons of olive oil, then added the diced roasted red peppers and a clove of minced garlic. I let them cook for about two minutes and then tossed the orzo, chopped spinach and basil, salt, pepper, and balsamic vinegar in. I let everything heat through for another minute, then off the heat I stirred in a few tablespoons of grated parmesan cheese. The Orzo with Spinach and Roasted Red Peppers smelled amazing. The combination of the garlic, basil, balsamic, and cheese was a glorious comforting smell that made my mouth start to water. When your usual salad or over used side dish just doesn’t cut it anymore try making this quick and delicious Orzo with Spinach and Roasted Red Peppers!
How awesome does this orzo look?? I LOVE orzo so much and I’m always on the look-out for new fun ways to use it! It sounds amazing with spinach and roasted red peppers and SO easy for these busy summer weeknights! ;)
Thanks Sarah, it’s definitely an easy to make favorite around here!
I love all of these flavors together, this looks like a fantastic side dish!
Thanks Kayley! :-)
I’m with you, side dishes are just hard to put together during the hectic week. But I love how easy this orzo is. I am tempted to just have it as the main :)
Thanks Zainab! I could totally eat this as a main dish too!
I feel like you’ve described my dinner dilemmas to a “T”! I could live on grilled meats, soups, and salad alone for the most part, then I have to deal with some type of side. I love orzo pasta, and all the veggies and flavors you have in here sound delicious! Pinning. :)
Thanks Marcie! We are always eating grilled meat and salad around here, so it was nice to surprise my husband with a different side dish.
I love Orzo and this seems like a great way to cook with it! :)
Thank you, it’s one of my new favorites!
This looks amazing! Would definitely make a perfect addition to a picnic! :)
Thanks Jess, it would be great picnic food!
Danae this looks wonderful! And something my husband would love also! I usually just cook up some veggie for our side dish and call it good! This will look like I put a lot more effort into it though! Pinning!
Thanks Serene! I’m always making a salad or cooking veggies, this was a nice change!
This is the perfect side dish Danae, love everything about it.
Thanks Matt!