Easy recipes of the week: marry-me-orzo
“What are we eating today?” It’s probably the most asked question in the world. After a day full of hustle and bustle, running from here to there and an overflowing agenda, you really don’t feel like spending hours in the kitchen. We understand that. You want to whip up something delicious that isn’t just a quick bite, but doesn’t take hours either. Because while we all sometimes crave a quick meal, you also don’t want to settle for a boring, quickly made meal every day. Luckily, I have something for you! In the section ‘Easy recipes of the week‘ we will search every Monday for the fastest, easiest, and tastiest recipes that you can put on the table in no time. This week: marry-me-orzo
It’s that time again: we’re in the final stretch. The days are longer than ever and darker than your winter blues can handle. Yes, I really have those days when I’m so tired that I just want to throw all kinds of ingredients into a baking dish and slide it straight into the oven. Do you understand me? Then you’re in for a treat: this vegetarian recipe takes only ten minutes to prepare. Put it in the oven and 40 minutes later, your feast is ready. The most delicious creamy orzo with Tuscan sauce, spinach, and a hefty pile of Parmesan cheese. Who wouldn’t want that? And if it’s that easy, even better. I know what I’m cooking tonight. Are you joining me?
The shopping list (for 6 people)
- 453 grams of orzo
- 270 grams of broccoli (cut into florets)
- 700 ml vegetable broth
- 236 ml of cooking cream
- 30 grams of sun-dried tomatoes
- 4 cloves of garlic
- 1 teaspoon of salt, chili flakes, and oregano
- 40 grams of grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 large handfuls of fresh spinach
- 2 tablespoons of fresh basil
The preparation
Step 1: Preheat the oven and prep the vegetables
Start by preheating the oven to 190 degrees. Grab a large baking dish and lightly grease it. You wanted easy? Then you get easy. You only need to prepare a few things. Cut the broccoli into florets, crush the garlic cloves, and chop the sun-dried tomatoes roughly into small pieces.
Step 2: Everything goes together and into the oven
Then comes the easiest step of this recipe: throwing everything together. First, add the sun-dried tomatoes to the baking dish. Sprinkle the herbs over it. Pour in the broth and cooking cream. Weigh the pasta and add it, uncooked, as well. Then add the broccoli and garlic. Mix everything well and cover the dish with aluminum foil. Put it in the oven and let it bake for 30 to 40 minutes. Make sure the orzo is al dente.
Step 3: The finishing touches
Is your ‘dump & bake’ ready? Then it’s time for the final steps. Don’t let it cool first. No, no. Immediately sprinkle the Parmesan cheese over your casserole. Add the spinach and basil and mix it well. Now put the dish back in the oven without aluminum foil for 5 to 10 minutes. Once the orzo is soft, it’s done. Let it cool for a bit and sprinkle some fresh basil leaves and Parmesan cheese on top for the finishing touch. And that’s it!
As you can see: with a little effort, you can put a mouthwatering casserole on the table. This one is so delicious that everyone will think you’re the newest chef in town.
@liveeatlearn Welcome to Episode 1 of our Dump & Bake Dinners series! 🎉 Just dump everything in a casserole dish, cover, and bake! As a nutritionist and busy business owner who’s also trying to get ahead for maternity leave, easy dinners are the name of the game 💪😮💨 And there truly isn’t an easier dinner than this Dump & Bake Marry Me Orzo dinner. It takes just 10 minutes to get in the oven (and no, you don’t have to cook the orzo first). The full written recipe is on my site, liveeatlearn.com (I’ve also linked it in the comments!)
