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One Pot Mediterranean Orzo Pasta

One Pot Mediterranean Orzo Pasta: Easy Weeknight Meal

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A vibrant, flavorful, and vegetarian-friendly weeknight meal that brings the tastes of the Mediterranean to your table with minimal cleanup. By cooking tender orzo directly in a savory vegetable broth with aromatic garlic, juicy cherry tomatoes, and fresh spinach, you create a naturally creamy, al dente dish that is as efficient as it is delicious. Finished with briny kalamata olives and salty feta cheese, this one-skillet wonder is perfect for busy families seeking a healthy, home-cooked dinner.

Ingredients

Scale

1.5 cups orzo
3 cups vegetable broth
2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
3 cups fresh baby spinach
0.5 cup kalamata olives, pitted and sliced
0.5 cup feta cheese, crumbled
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

Instructions

Heat the olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat.
Add the minced garlic and sauté for one minute until fragrant.
Stir in the dry orzo, toasting the grains for two minutes.
Pour in the vegetable broth and bring the mixture to a gentle boil.
Add the halved cherry tomatoes and a pinch of salt.
Reduce heat to low, cover the skillet, and simmer for 10-12 minutes until the liquid is mostly absorbed and pasta is tender.
Stir in the fresh baby spinach until wilted.
Fold in the sliced kalamata olives.
Serve hot, garnished with the crumbled feta cheese.

Notes

Substitute orzo with small pasta shells if desired. For the best flavor, use high-quality extra virgin olive oil. Keep the skillet covered during simmering to ensure the pasta cooks evenly in the steam.

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