Creamy Roasted Garlic & Spinach Orzo

Name: Creamy Roasted Garlic & Spinach Orzo
Prep time: 35 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 6 servings.
Ingredients: 1 whole garlic bulb; 1 teaspoon plus 1 tablespoon olive oil, divided; 1-3/4 cups uncooked whole wheat orzo pasta; 2-1/2 cups chicken stock; 3 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese, cubed; 1 package (9 ounces) fresh spinach, trimmed and chopped; 1/4 cup shredded Asiago cheese; 1/4 cup fat-free milk; 1 teaspoon salt-free garlic pepper seasoning blend; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley

This side dish brings instant comfort. I first made it without spinach, so my husband and daughter would like it. The next time, I added spinach for the extra health benefits. They still devoured it, so in my book, that's a win-win. —Dawn Moore, Warren, Pennsylvania

Ingredients

1 whole garlic bulb
1 teaspoon plus 1 tablespoon olive oil, divided
1-3/4 cups uncooked whole wheat orzo pasta
2-1/2 cups chicken stock
3 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese, cubed
1 package (9 ounces) fresh spinach, trimmed and chopped
1/4 cup shredded Asiago cheese
1/4 cup fat-free milk
1 teaspoon salt-free garlic pepper seasoning blend
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley

Directions

Preheat oven to 425°. Remove papery outer skin from garlic bulb, but do not peel or separate the cloves. Cut off top of garlic bulb, exposing individual cloves. Drizzle cut cloves with 1 teaspoon oil. Wrap in foil. Bake 30-35 minutes or until cloves are soft. Unwrap. When cool enough to handle, squeeze garlic from skins.
In a Dutch oven, heat remaining oil over medium-high heat. Add pasta; cook and stir 2-3 minutes or until lightly browned. Add stock; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, 10-12 minutes or until pasta is tender and liquid is absorbed.
Stir in cream cheese until melted. Add spinach, Asiago cheese, milk, seasoning blend, salt and roasted garlic; cook and stir until spinach is wilted. Sprinkle with parsley.

Nutrition Facts

2/3 cup: 271 calories, 8g fat (3g saturated fat), 14mg cholesterol, 422mg sodium, 37g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 9g fiber), 12g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 starch, 1-1/2 fat, 1 vegetable.

Originally published as Roasted Garlic, Spinach, and Asiago Orzo in Simple & Delicious April/May 2014

Reviews

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Penny

Nov 3, 2018

I found this dish quite heavy so I added 1/4 more milk. I added lemon juice to try lighten the flavour and some parmesan cheese. It needed salt as I couldnt get that wow factor which I normally manage with other orzo dishes.
vbag

May 7, 2014

This is a very tasty and creamy recipe. It is high in carbohydrates , however, because of the pasta. The flavor is rich. I love the zestiness of the spinach matched with the Asiago cheese. I added fresh parmesan at the end.
Cook_aholic

Apr 14, 2014

I have to say this was delicious but too rich for my family. I have made it to take to carry-ins and I also switched from chopped spinach to chopped broccoli. It was great too.