Cheesy Baked Orzo With Marinara
Published Dec. 3, 2022
- Total Time
- 40 minutes
- Rating
- Comments
- Read comments
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Ingredients
- Kosher salt and black pepper
- 1cup orzo
- 1tablespoon olive oil
- 2teaspoons minced garlic (about 2 cloves)
- ¼teaspoon red-pepper flakes
- 5ounces fresh baby spinach (about 7 cups)
- 1(24- to 25-ounce) jar marinara sauce
- ½cup chopped fresh basil leaves, plus torn or sliced basil for serving
- 1cup shredded low-moisture mozzarella cheese (about 4 ounces)
- ⅓cup grated Parmesan cheese
Nutritional analysis per serving (4 servings)
362 calories; 17 grams fat; 7 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 6 grams monounsaturated fat; 2 grams polyunsaturated fat; 35 grams carbohydrates; 5 grams dietary fiber; 10 grams sugars; 17 grams protein; 1122 milligrams sodium
Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
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Preparation
- Step 1
Heat the oven to 375 degrees and bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Add the orzo and cook according to package instructions until just al dente. Drain the orzo and set aside.
- Step 2
Meanwhile, in a very large (12-inch) ovenproof skillet, heat the olive oil over medium. Add the garlic and red-pepper flakes and cook until fragrant (don't let the garlic burn), about 30 seconds to 1 minute. Add the spinach and a pinch of salt and cook, tossing often, until wilted, about 2 minutes. Add the marinara, basil, ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon black pepper. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally, then remove from heat.
- Step 3
Stir the cooked orzo into the sauce. Stir in the mozzarella, sprinkle the Parmesan on top, and bake, uncovered, until the Parmesan is melted and the pasta is heated through, 15 to 20 minutes. Sprinkle with additional basil, and serve warm.
Private Notes
Comments
With very little extra effort, and superior results, take a few minutes to make Simple Marinara Sauce by MARTHA ROSE SHULMAN Time: 30 minutes Yield: Enough for 4 pasta servings https://approvedpromo.info/recipes/1016478-simple-marinara-sauce?smid=ck-recipe-iOS-share INGREDIENTS 1 (28-ounce) can tomatoes, seeded and chopped if not already chopped, with juice 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil 2 garlic cloves, minced 1/8 teaspoon sugar a few sprigs of fresh basil, if available Salt to taste
Loved this! I added sauteed mushrooms which went really well with the spinach and made it a bit more hearty.
As for myself, I'm a happy omnivore. But some cooks will want to be careful about the claim that this is a vegetarian recipe. Authentic Parmesan cheese contains rennet, which consists of enzymes from the stomachs of ruminant mammals such as cows. It's not meat, but it cannot be obtained from an animal without killing it. Thus, any dish that uses true Parmesan is not vegetarian. Mozzarella traditionally uses rennet, too, but I think vegetarian varieties are readily available.
We used Tuscan kale instead of spinach, added kalamata olives, and doubled the garlic and crushed red pepper because we like spicy food and it was a hit!
I am surprised this is a five-star recipe. I've made it and it tastes exactly how you'd expect: pasta with cheese and sauce. Not bad, not great.
I made this with Rao’s vodka sauce and it was amazing and so easy. It was so hearty my husband asked if there was meat in it!
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