Greek Baked Orzo
The following recipe and photography were provided courtesy of Julia of A Cedar Spoon.
If you’re looking to better your eating habits, Mediterranean recipes are the perfect place to start since they primarily utilize whole food ingredients and healthy fats.
![Greek Baked Orzo](https://www.heinens.com/content/uploads/2022/01/600x700_Greek-Baked-Orzo-Image-1.jpg)
Featuring orzo, chickpeas, fire roasted tomatoes, warm spices, fresh kale, lemon juice and feta cheese, this hearty vegetarian dish makes a fresh and flavorful main meal or side dish.
![Greek Baked Orzo](https://www.heinens.com/content/uploads/2022/01/800x550_Greek-Baked-Orzo-Image-9.jpg)
Greek Baked Orzo
- Cook time:
- 30min
- Prep time:
- 10min
- Total time:
- 40min
- Servings:
- 4-6
Ingredients
- 3 Tbsp. olive oil
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/2 small sweet onion, diced
- 1 small zucchini, diced
- 1 bell pepper, seeded and diced
- 2 tsp. Heinen's oregano
- 1/2 tsp. Heinen's crushed red pepper flakes
- 2 tsp. Heinen's smoked paprika
- 1 tsp. Heinen's coriander
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/8 tsp. pepper
- 3 Tbsp. tomato paste
- 1 15 oz. can Heinen's fire roasted tomatoes
- 1 15 oz. can Heinen's chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 2 cups Heinen's vegetable broth
- 1 cup orzo
- 2 cups kale, chopped
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 8-10 fresh basil leaves, chopped
- 2 Tbsp. fresh dill, chopped
- 1 lemon, 1/2 sliced and 1/2 juiced
- 1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled
- Pita or naan bread, for serving
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350˚F.
- Heat a large oven-safe skillet over medium heat and add 3 Tbsp. of olive oil. Add the garlic and onion and sauté for 2 minutes.
- Add the zucchini, bell peppers, oregano, crushed red pepper flakes, smoked paprika, coriander, salt and pepper.
- Continue to sauté for another 4-5 minutes.
- Add the tomato paste and sauté for another 2 minutes.
- Add the fire roasted tomatoes, chickpeas, vegetable broth and orzo. Stir well.
- Cover with a lid and put the skillet in the oven. Bake for 10-15 minutes, or until the orzo is soft. You will want to stir the orzo once or twice during the cook time to keep it from sticking to the bottom of the skillet.
- Remove from the oven and add the kale. Stir and return to the oven for 2 more minutes, or until the kale is wilted.
- Stir in the fresh herbs and lemon juice.
- Sprinkle with feta cheese and serve with lemon slices and pita or or naan bread.
Notes
- You can easily make this on the stovetop . Instead of transferring the pot to the oven, simply cover and simmer on the stove for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Feel free to add any vegetables you have on hand. Other tasty additions include carrots, celery and red onion.
- Goat cheese is another nice option in place of feta cheese.
- Try adding protein like grilled chicken, salmon, shrimp or steak.