This Creamy Spinach Orzo with Lemon Sauce is super easy to make and insanely delicious. With only natural ingredients it is entirely vegan and gluten free.
Only recently I discovered the magic of orzo for me with this Creamy Asparagus Orzo with Garlic Parmesan.
If you haven’t tried it yet, and got a soft spot for this dreamy recipe, make it soon. It’s so good, you won’t regret it at all.
Now it is time to be excited for this Creamy Spinach Orzo with Lemon Sauce. It’s fresh, creamy, light, refreshing, and infused with incredibly flavors.
Is orzo pasta gluten free?
Regular orzo isn’t gluten free. It’s made from wheat. Finally, I found an amazing gluten free orzo in my local store.
The trick is that it is made from corn and rice.
I love it that everyone can enjoy this, no matter what diet direction you follow.
Where to buy gluten free orzo
I found mine as I mentioned in a local store, but if you can’t find one try online.
Otherwise if gluten free is not important for you, just use your favorite orzo made from wheat.
Also it will work of course with any pasta you like. No matter if gluten free or not.
How to make lemon sauce
Classic lemon sauce is made with butter, Parmesan, cheese, and eggs. Sometimes you will see recipes with cream and chicken broth as well. It isn’t diary free or plant based, obviously.
We do something different today. No butter, cream, or eggs. We use a 3 ingredient cheese sauce.
Just add cashews, vegetable broth, and tahini to a blender. Blend until smooth, then add lemon juice and peeled zest. Blend again until finally smooth and creamy.
Note: I used a organic lemon from my local store, because almost all regular lemons are coated in wax. This way I can use both the juice and zest.
It’s easy to know how to zest a lemon: use a zester, pairing knife, or grater. It all depends on your desired preferences.
For a finely grated zest, which is my favorite, I used a grater. It will lead to the best results.
Make sure to only get the skin not the pith.
If you prefer a more robust zest appearance and size doesn’t matter to you, try a knife.
Use a sharp knife, cut into the skin and slide around the lemon from the top to the bottom.
It won’t make a finely grated zest. You have to cut it to the preferred size manually with your knife.
How to make Creamy Spinach Orzo with Lemon Sauce
In a large sauce pan or pot, heat a bit of oil (or vegetable broth for oil free cooking). Fry the garlic for around 3 minutes, add spinach and fry for 2 minutes more.
Next, add cooked orzo and lemon sauce. Season with salt and pepper and cook for 4 minutes more on medium heat.
Divide onto plates or bowls and top with the optional vegan Parmesan.
Note: It’s super easy to make a vegan Parmesan. Just combine cashews and nutritional yeast in a blender and process until it has the consistency like flour.
I made this recently for friends and it was a big hit. No one missed the dairy.
Plus no one could believe that you can do such a delicious dish from such simple ingredients.
It will make a fantastic dinner, lunch, or even side dish. It’s pretty great for potlucks, picnics and get togethers.
If you give this Creamy Spinach Orzo with Lemon Sauce a go, tag me on Instagram or Facebook.
Show me all your lovely creations.
See you soon, Florian.
Creamy Spinach Orzo with Lemon Sauce
This Creamy Spinach Orzo with Lemon Sauce is super easy to make and insanely delicious. With only natural ingredients it is entirely vegan and gluten free.
Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked orzo, gluten free
- 1 batch 3 Ingredient Vegan Cheese Sauce
- 1 lemon juiced + the peeled zest
- 3 oz spinach, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- salt, pepper to taste
Optional:
Instructions
- Heat a bit of oil (or vegetable broth for oil free cooking) in a large sauce pan or pot. Fry the garlic for around 3 minutes, add spinach and fry for 2 minutes more.
- Add cooked orzo and lemon sauce. Season with salt and pepper and cook for 4 minutes more on medium heat.
- Divide onto plates or bowls and top with the optional vegan Parmesan.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1.5 cupsAmount Per Serving: Calories: 460Total Fat: 22gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 338mgCarbohydrates: 122gFiber: 7gSugar: 8gProtein: 29g