Hi! I’m glad you are here! I can’t even begin to tell you how much I love this side dish! The flavors are so clean and refreshing, it just the thing during the spring and summer!
Do you know what else is awesome about this recipe?
It takes just a few minutes to throw together.
You can add grilled chicken and make it a girly main dish (my boys don’t dig this for the main meal).
Leftovers are yummy! I love leftovers!
One of my very favorite things in the world is the summer and everything that goes with it. I can’t get enough of the warm sunshine, fresh fruits and veggies, lazy summer schedule, and mowing my lawn. It may sound a little crazy but I fell in love with mowing my lawn when my boys were little. Mowing the lawn was my sanity because I couldn’t hear my boys screaming while I mowed the lawn. I guess you could say it was my “quiet time”.
Anyway, the days are getting longer and summer is right around the corner. That makes me a happy girl! Do you know what else makes me happy? This Parmesan, Spinach, and Lemon Orzo make me happy. It’s packed with so many fresh flavors my mouth wants to do a little dance with every bite!
This light and summery side dish has chopped fresh spinach that gives the dish a pretty pop of green. Lemon zest and juice add a fresh and clean taste that I’m craving right now. Lastly, the nutty and salty flavors of Parmesan cheese complete the whole dish.
I can’t wait for you guys to try this!
I’m pretty sure this side dish is going to be a summer staple at our house. You are going to fall in love with how simple it is and how fresh it tastes!
SIMPLE PARMESAN, SPINACH, AND LEMON ORZO
Ingredients
- 1 c. orzo pasta
- 2 c. chicken broth
- 1 c. fresh spinach chopped
- ¾ c. Parmesan cheese grated
- ½ a lemon zest and juice more to taste
- ¼ tsp. freshly ground black pepper
- ¼ tsp. salt
- ¼ tsp. dried thyme or a tsp fresh minced thyme
Instructions
- In a large saucepan, bring broth to boil. Add orzo and reduce to heat. Simmer uncovered for 8-10 minutes. The orzo will absorb most of the broth as it cooks, although you want a little remaining broth.
- Remove pasta from heat and stir in chopped spinach, cheese, lemon juice and zest, salt and pepper.
- Serve immediately!
This recipe was previously shared on Ella Clair Inspired!
Anna Bomas says
My mother is from Greece and is a fantastic cook (aren’t all Greek mothers?). I made this dish for a small summer luncheon on my back, screened porch. A couple of my guests wanted the recipe. The best part – my mother raved about this dish and wanted to know how I made it! She usually critiques my cooking (don’t most Greek mothers?). Since then, I have often served this dish and have often given out the recipe. Thank you for such a simple, yet delicious side dish.
Amy Engberson says
I’d love to learn how to cook from your mother! I’m glad you all enjoyed this side dish! I love how easy it is to make!
Monique Bean says
Gotta tell you… this recipe was ALMOST PERFECT! I started to realize after adding the Parmesan cheese…. that it was WAY TOO MUCH! I even stopped at one cup as I started to realize it was becoming too cheesy. My kids even told me that they would’ve loved it if there was less cheese. I also realized that it took quite a bit longer than 8-10 minutes to cook the orzo. It takes about 20 minutes to get it past “al dente”. I also scratched the lemon zest… would never have been able to get my kids to like/ eat it. And for the record… my kids are in high school and middle school. Great taste overall… but too cheesy.
Amy Engberson says
I’m glad you mostly enjoyed the orzo. As far as being too cheesy, I agree if you added a cup of Parmesan cheese it’s probably a bit too cheesy. The recipe actually only calls for 3/4 cup of cheese. I would recommend not adding more than it lists in the recipe, especially if you don’t love too much cheese. Leaving out zest is a great option if you don’t like lemon. The instructions on the box of orzo that I use recommended boiling the orzo for 9 minutes. So 8-10 is just right for the brand I use. Maybe you used a different type of orzo that requires a longer cook time. Maybe you’ll need to check the package instructions to double-check the boiling time. Let me know if you have any other questions!
Rach's Recipes says
This looks really refreshing and delicious! Thinking of trying it with shredded chicken, what do you think? Thanks!
Amy Engberson says
Great idea! Adding a little chicken turns it into a perfect lunch! Enjoy!