Spinach and Paneer Orzo Pasta

This is an easy meal that is tasty and comforting, made with orzo pasta, spinach, paneer, and simple spices. This is quick meal too. In under 30 minutes, this can be made and is a perfect one for a weeknight dinner or a summer meal.

This pasta dish is a little similar to our pulao. Orzo or rice shaped pasta has a great shape and a good texture. This fusion pasta is comforting and bright with warm ginger and Thai chili along with cinnamon, cardamom, and cloves. This cooks faster than rice, you can save may be around 5-6 minutes. This is also an one pot meal and this pasta fits in perfectly to make a quick and tasty meal. The texture of this pasta pulao is amazing and each bite is SO flavor packed.  The spices are also not overwhelming and the heat can be adjusted with the Thai chilies as you prefer. The added almond flour gives a little creamy flavor and the sliced almonds add to the crunch.  This is one of the meal that my kids go crazy for. 

Spinach is an amazing leafy veggie and is my favorite one. I love to make curries with spinach and love to have with rice or roti. Spinach is like adding magic to the recipe. I love it in anything and everything. This Greek  Spanakorizo is one of our favorites and we love this Spinach and Potato Soup too. Paneer, a soft non melting cheese is also a family favorite! Spinach and paneer pair very well and we love to have it in Indian as well as fusion recipes like this Spinach and Paneer Stuffed Shells in Malai Sauce.

When the mercury level rises, you do not feel like switching on the oven, or stove. Or even do the dishes. You'd want to make an easy meal mix that just uses a pan or pot and finish it off. That's quite normal as we all do. That's why Christie is hosting this event with the theme "One Pot Meals" and I am sharing this comforting fusion pasta. We share Recipes From Our Dinner Table! Join our group and share your recipes, too! While you're at it, join our Pinterest board, too!

Summer calls for no cook or cooking with just one pot and here are some amazing one pot meal ideas from the blog. We love these and hope you'd too!

Spanakorizo

Easy One pot Mexican Beans and Rice

Easy One Pot Mixed Millet and Dal Khichdi

Beetroot Pulao

Instant Pot Dal Dhokli

Garbanzo Pasta and Paneer Soup

Vegan Green Loobia Polo

Ingredients

Serves 3

Orzo pasta - 1 cup

Water - 2 and 1/3 cup

Spinach - cups, chopped

Paneer  -1.5 cups, 1/2-in cubes

Butter - 1 tbsp

Oil - 1 tbsp

Onion  - 1/2 cup chopped

Ginger - 1.5-in

Garlic - 2 to 3

Thai green chili - 1 to 3

Salt - 1 tsp

Cardamom - 2

Cloves - 2

Cinnamon - 1.5 -in piece

Almond flour - 1.5 tbsp

Sliced almonds - 1/4 cup, toasted

Method

Grind the ginger, garlic, and Thai chili with one or two tablespoons of water. Set aside.

Heat butter and oil in a heavy bottomed pan. Add the cardamom, cloves, and cinnamon, fry for 30 seconds. Add the onions and sauté for 3 minutes. Add the ground ginger- garlic- chili mix and continue to sauté for another minute.

Add the pasta and mix.

Add water and salt, bring it to a boil, cover and cook for 5 minutes.

Add the spinach and paneer, mix. Add the almond flour and mix gently into the whole mixture. Cover and cook for 5 minutes.

Switch off the flame. Let it stay covered for 3-4 minutes. Fluff it up, garnish with almonds.

Serve immediately.

All in One! One Pot or One Pan Meals

• Creamy Keto Chicken and Asparagus Skillet from Cheese Curd In Paradise
• One Pan Cheese Ravioli with Peas and Arugula from Karen's Kitchen Stories
• One Pan Ranch Chicken and Veggies from Jen Around the World
• One-Pot Sun Dried Tomato Pasta and Sausage from A Kitchen Hoor's Adventures
• Oven Poached Lemon Butter Cod from Art of Natural Living
• Oven Roasted Sausage and Beans from That Recipe
• Sheet Pan Italian Sausage with Gnocchi, Peppers, & Onions from The Spiffy Cookie
• Slow Cooker Bourbon Chicken from Hezzi-D's Books and Cooks