Hello, hello foodies!
Today, I’m excited to share a recipe that will surely tug at your heartstrings… It’s an ultra-comforting dish made with simple, accessible, and incredibly indulgent ingredients. Do you trust me once again?
Alright, let’s dive into this one-pot orzo with chorizo and spinach!
A true obsession: orzo
There’s no going back; I am officially addicted to orzo, and this is just the beginning!
Previously, I shared a recipe fororzo with chicken and zucchini, an incredibly creamy and flavorful dish, as well asorzo with chorizo (the inspiration for today’s recipe). Here, we’re capturing that same essence! Softness, creaminess, and delight in every bite…
I must warn you now: addiction is on the horizon!
But by the way, what is orzo?
Orzo is a small pasta that closely resembles a grain of rice.
Very popular in various cuisines, it’s often mistaken for a grain due to its shape. However, it’s definitely pasta made from durum wheat semolina. Its name comes from the Italian « orzo, » meaning « barley, » even though barley is not part of its composition.
Orzo is primarily associated with Mediterranean cuisines, particularly Italian and Greek.
In Italy, it’s frequently used in traditional soups like minestrone, or cooked risotto-style in dishes known as orzotto. In Greece, it’s called kritharaki, commonly found in stews such as youvetsi, which features meat and tomato sauce.
An ingredient with multiple uses
What makes orzo so appealing is its versatility. It works well in soups, saucy dishes, salads, or even baked casseroles. It pairs easily with a variety of ingredients: meats, fish, shellfish, vegetables, or deli meats, like chorizo and spinach here.
When cooked in broth, it absorbs flavors beautifully and provides a tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture. In its chilled form, it becomes perfect for salads (it’s often a go-to in the lunch boxes I prepare for my children!).
Orzo is an excellent way to switch things up from traditional rice or pasta.
Where to find orzo?
If you’re wondering where to find this little pasta, the answer is simple: in the pasta and rice aisle of your local supermarket.
You can often find it from brands like Alpina or Barilla, labeled as Risoni no. 26. For this one-pot orzo, chorizo, and spinach dish, I’ve deliberately chosen simple ingredients: chorizo (of course!), spinach, Comté cheese, and cream.
Feel free to adapt based on the season or what you have on hand. Zucchini and eggplant are fantastic in warm weather, bacon can take the place of chorizo, and Parmesan or Beaufort cheese will work just as well. In short, this recipe is open to all kinds of variations!
And what is a one-pot dish?
A one-pot dish is simply a cooking method based on the principle of combining all the ingredients in a single pot and cooking everything together.
This not only saves time but also simplifies kitchen tasks.
Here, some ingredients will require a bit of cooking before adding the rest, but we remain true to this efficient technique.
On the blog, you’ll also find myone-pot pasta with bacon and zucchini and even myone-pot spelt from Velay.
Spinach
I genuinely enjoy adding spinach to dishes like this. Beyond the nutritional benefits, I believe it enhances the overall flavor. Let me explain…
On one hand, you’ll appreciate the wonderful taste of spinach, which pairs beautifully with chorizo.
On the other hand, the texture of spinach helps create a binding effect, preventing the dish from becoming too compact, dry, or « blocky. »
The necessary utensils:
A cutting board,
A good paring knife,
A frying pan or sauté pan,
And a spatula.
Other ideas just for you
If you love this kind of self-cooking dish, I’m sure you’ll also fall for myCreamy Gnocchi with Spinach and Bacon. It’s an ultra-comforting recipe! Staying within the spinach theme, I also recommend myGreen Lentil and Spinach Dahl. A flavorful vegetarian dish that’s always a hit in my home.
If you’re in the mood for a culinary journey, mySpinach and Ricotta Spanakopita will transport you straight to Greece. For homemade pasta enthusiasts, I invite you to try myGreen Ravioli Dough, perfect for festive dinners.
And if you’re looking for that little spicy twist I love, check out myChorizo and Zucchini Risotto. Another great way to enjoy chorizo simply…
Well, that’s all from me! All that’s left is to put on your apron and head to the kitchen to create this delicious one-pot orzo with chorizo and spinach! The recipe, Chef!
One Pot Orzo, Chorizo and Spinach
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Loading...Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil
- 1/2 onion
- 1 level tablespoon of tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon of mustard
- 100 g of chorizo
- 240 g of orzo pasta
- 200 g of spinach
- 1 broth cube (vegetable or poultry)
- 70 g of comté cheese
- Salt
- Pepper
- 1 tablespoon of mascarpone or 5 cl of cream
Instructions
Heat 3/4 liter of water with the stock cube.
Heat the olive oil in a pan over medium/high heat.
Add the finely chopped onion, tomato paste, mustard, chorizo cut into small cubes, and orzo. Cook for 2 minutes.
Add the spinach leaves and then cover with two-thirds of the stock. Cook for 13 minutes.
Stir during cooking and add stock.
At the end of cooking, add the mascarpone. Adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper.
Finally, add the Comté cheese in small cubes, mix, and serve!
For the recipe in French, go here.
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