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Spinach Orzo

By America's Test Kitchen

Published on July 27, 2011

Yield

Serves 4

Spinach Orzo

Ingredients

Table salt 1 cup orzo 4 cups baby spinach 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 medium clove garlic, minced½ teaspoon grated lemon zest Ground black pepper

Before You Begin

Add the orzo to the boiling water a couple of minutes before slipping the pork chops into the hot oil.

Instructions

  1. Bring 3 quarts water to boil in large pot over high heat. Add 1 teaspoon salt and orzo and cook until al dente. Reserve 1/4 cup cooking water and drain orzo.
  2. Meanwhile, place spinach, oil, garlic, and lemon zest in large serving bowl. Add drained orzo and toss to coat, adding reserved cooking water as necessary, until spinach is wilted. Adjust seasonings with salt and pepper. Serve.
Spinach Orzo

Spinach Orzo

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By America's Test Kitchen
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Yield

Serves 4

Ingredients

Table salt
1 cup orzo
4 cups baby spinach
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium clove garlic, minced
½ teaspoon grated lemon zest
Ground black pepper

Ingredients

Table salt
1 cup orzo
4 cups baby spinach
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium clove garlic, minced
½ teaspoon grated lemon zest
Ground black pepper

Ingredients

Table salt
1 cup orzo
4 cups baby spinach
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium clove garlic, minced
½ teaspoon grated lemon zest
Ground black pepper

Why This Recipe Works

Our Spinach Orzo recipe is a simple, versatile side dish in which the pasta takes center stage. We made sure to thoroughly salt the water the pasta in—we recommend 1 tablespoon of table salt for every gallon of water. Pasta cooked in unsalted water will taste very bland. We added the hot pasta to a blend of baby spinach, lemon zest, garlic, and olive oil. The heat “cooked" the spinach and bloomed the flavor of the aromatic ingredients.

Before You Begin

Add the orzo to the boiling water a couple of minutes before slipping the pork chops into the hot oil.

Instructions

  1. Bring 3 quarts water to boil in large pot over high heat. Add 1 teaspoon salt and orzo and cook until al dente. Reserve 1/4 cup cooking water and drain orzo.
  2. Meanwhile, place spinach, oil, garlic, and lemon zest in large serving bowl. Add drained orzo and toss to coat, adding reserved cooking water as necessary, until spinach is wilted. Adjust seasonings with salt and pepper. Serve.

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