Orzo with Spinach and Roasted Red Peppers

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!

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Yield: 4 servings

Orzo with Spinach and Roasted Red Peppers

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A light and delicious side dish that comes together in 15 minutes!

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Total Time 15 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 cup whole wheat orzo, uncooked
• 2 t. extra virgin olive oil
• 1/3 cup roasted red peppers, diced
• 1 clove of garlic, minced
• 1/2 cup baby spinach, chopped
• 1 T. fresh basil, chopped
• 1/2-3/4 t. kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper to taste
• 1 T. balsamic vinegar
• 3 T. parmesan cheese

Instructions

1. Cook orzo according to package directions omitting any oil.
2. When the orzo is cooked, drain and set aside.
3. In a small saucepan heat the olive oil over medium heat.
4. Add in the roasted red peppers and garlic.
5. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally.
6. Add the orzo, spinach, basil, salt, pepper, and balsamic vinegar into the saucepan and heat through.
7. Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the parmesan cheese.
8. Serve immediately.