Creamy Mushroom and Spinach Orzo (Risoni) (One Pot)
An easy dinner for midweek all made in one pot. Super creamy but made without a single drop of cream! Nutrition grade rating of A-. Make it even more nutritious by adding more vegetables!
Prep Time10 minutesmins
Cook Time20 minutesmins
Total Time30 minutesmins
Course: Pasta
Servings: 4
Calories: 542cal
Author: Nagi | RecipeTin Eats
Ingredients
1tbspolive oil
1.2 lb / 600g mushrooms, sliced (I used button mushrooms)
Orzo / Risoni
3tbspbutter, unsalted
3garlic cloves, minced
1small onion, finely diced
3tbspflour
1 1/2 cups / 375 mlmilk(I used low fat)
3 cups / 750 mlchicken broth
1 1/2cupsorzo / risoni, uncooked(Note 1)
1/2tspsalt
Black pepper
3/4cupparmesan cheese, grated
8 oz / 250g frozen spinach(1 box), thawed, excess water squeezed out
Garnish (optional)
Extra parmesan cheese
Finely chopped parsley
Instructions
Heat the olive oil in a large non stick pan over high heat (if you aren't using non stick, use more oil).
Add the mushrooms and cook until softened (around 3 minutes). Remove from the pan and set aside.
Lower the heat to medium and melt the butter in the pan. Add garlic and onion, and sauté until the onion becomes translucent - around 3 minutes.
Add the flour, stir it in and cook for 1 minute.
Add the milk and chicken broth and use a whisk to mix the butter flour mixture into the liquid.
Increase heat to medium high. Add the orzo/risoni, salt and pepper, stir once, then put a lid on (Note 2). Bring it to a simmer, then leave it to cook for around 8 to 10 minutes or until the orzo/risoni is cooked but still slightly firm, and it is still quite saucy. Note: If you have a strong stove, turn it down slightly so it just simmers).
While the orzo is cooking, break up the spinach into little pieces with your fingers.
Remove the pan from the stove. Stir through the parmesan, spinach and cooked mushrooms. Check if more salt or pepper is required.
Serve immediately, garnished with more parmesan and fresh finely chopped parsley, if desired.
Notes
1. Orzo / risoni is a pasta that is in the shape of rice and can be found in the pasta section of supermarkets. It costs around the same as ordinary pasta.2. If you don't have a lid for your fry pan (which I don't), use the lid of a pot larger than the pan or a large baking tray.3. Nutrition per serving, assuming 4 servings. Tip: The calories can be reduced by increasing the amount of vegetables in this. Either add more mushrooms, or other vegetables (even the frozen bags of chopped vegetables - heated through - will work). That will fill this out so it will serve more people. 1 1/2 cups of extra cooked mushrooms / spinach will stretch this out to serve 5 and will reduce the calories by about 100 calories per serving down to around 440 calories per serving.