Mushroom and Spinach Orzo
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🍝 Chapter 1: Pasta

Mushroom and Spinach Orzo

“A shortcut risotto — orzo gets delightfully creamy without all the constant stirring.”

1Ingredients

1½ cups dry orzo pasta
8 oz cremini mushrooms, sliced
3 cups fresh baby spinach
3 cups vegetable or chicken broth
2 tbsp butter
1 tbsp olive oil
½ medium onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 tsp fresh thyme (or ½ tsp dried)
Salt and black pepper

2Instructions

1

Heat olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add sliced mushrooms and let them cook undisturbed 3 minutes to get a good sear.

2

Add chopped onion and cook 2 more minutes until softened. Stir in garlic and thyme, cooking 30 seconds until fragrant.

3

Add dry orzo to the skillet and toast it 1 minute, stirring constantly.

4

Pour in broth, season with salt and pepper, and bring to a boil.

5

Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer 10–12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until orzo is tender and liquid is mostly absorbed.

6

Remove from heat. Stir in fresh spinach (it wilts quickly) and Parmesan cheese. Serve warm.

Pro Tip

Don't skip toasting the dry orzo in the pan for a minute — it adds a wonderful nutty depth of flavor.

At a Glance

10 min
Prep
15 min
Cook
25 min
Total
4
Serves

Tags

vegetarianmushroomscomfort food