Description
A creamy and flavorful baked dish combining orzo pasta, feta cheese, spinach, and roasted vegetables.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 1/4 cups orzo pasta
- 7 ounces feta cheese block
- 1/4 cup cream cheese, softened
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 5 ounces baby spinach
- 1 medium red onion, thinly sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 9 ounces cherry tomatoes, halved
- Zest and juice of 1 lemon
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, optional
- Salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil or parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Set oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Prepare Baking Dish: Drizzle 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large ovenproof baking dish. Place feta cheese block in the center. Arrange cherry tomatoes, sliced red onion, and minced garlic around the feta. Drizzle with remaining olive oil and sprinkle with oregano, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper.
- Roast Feta and Vegetables: Roast for 25 minutes until feta is soft and tomatoes are blistered.
- Cook Orzo: Meanwhile, cook orzo pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water and drain.
- Combine Cream Cheese and Lemon: Remove baking dish from the oven. Add softened cream cheese, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Gently stir to combine, breaking up the feta and mixing with vegetables.
- Finish with Spinach and Orzo: Add baby spinach and cooked orzo to the baking dish. Toss thoroughly until spinach wilts and sauce evenly coats the pasta, using reserved pasta water for a creamy texture as needed.
- Season and Garnish: Taste, adjust seasoning, and garnish with fresh basil or parsley before serving.
Notes
- Adjust the amount of red pepper flakes based on your spice preference.
- For a vegetarian version, ensure the feta cheese is suitable for your diet.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 35mg