Recipe: Orzo with Butternut Squash, Spinach, and Blue Cheese
I have two schools of thought on pasta recipes: they should either be an event or they should take no time at all. When I want to make an event out of pasta, I’ll make my own fresh pasta with a homemade sauce (and homemade ricotta, if I’m making lasagna!). These recipes take all evening and are usually accompanied by a bottle of wine.
But for the other times, I just want a quick pasta dish I can get to the table without much fuss. That’s where this orzo pasta with sweet winter squash and wilted spinach comes in.
Yes, I know roasting butternut squash isn’t usually what you think of when you want a quick meal. Here’s how you can get around that: Roast the squash (or several squashes!) on the weekend or whenever you have time, and then it’s already prepped and ready to go for whatever dish you want it for — this pasta dish, a workday salad, or an easy rice bowl. Just rewarm it for a few minutes in the microwave, a low oven, or in the skillet along with whatever you’re cooking. Of course, if you’re in a real hurry, steaming the squash for roughly 10 minutes is the way to go.
In terms of pasta, I like to use orzo when I want the pasta to be the sidekick to whatever vegetable I’m highlighting. Since it’s fall, butternut squash and spinach are definitely both the colors and flavors I’m craving.
This pasta dish also shows my other bias: I really enjoy winter squashes and sweet potatoes when paired with blue cheese. Plus, mixing the blue cheese in with the warm pasta and squash creates a creaminess in the dish without a heavy sauce. Of course, I understand that blue cheese isn’t everyone’s favorite — goat cheese also works well for creating this creamy texture (but just isn’t the same, flavor-wise!).
Orzo with Butternut Squash, Spinach & Blue Cheese
Serves 4 to 6
Nutritional Info
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups
cubed butternut squash (1/4-inch cubes)
- 3 tablespoons
olive oil
- 1/4 teaspoon
sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon
black pepper
- 1 cup
regular or whole-wheat orzo
- 2 cups
shredded spinach
- 2 tablespoons
olive oil
- 1 clove
garlic, minced
- 1/3 cup
blue cheese crumbles
Instructions
Preheat oven to 425˚F. Toss butternut squash with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. Spread into a single layer on a sheet tray. Bake until squash is tender and starting to brown, 35 to 40 minutes. (Squash can be roasted up to 5 days ahead and kept refrigerated. Rewarm before serving.)
Place the spinach in a large bowl and set aside. In a small skillet, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil until just warm. Stir in garlic, remove from heat, and allow to sit until ready to use.
Place the orzo in a pot and cover with at least 2 inches of water. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and cook until tender but not mushy, 8 to 9 minutes. Drain and immediately pour the hot orzo on top of the spinach. Let sit for a few minutes to slightly wilt spinach.
Add butternut squash to the pasta, along with the blue cheese and garlic olive oil. Toss until well-combined and serve warm.
Recipe Notes
Make-ahead: Roast the squash whenever you have a spare moment and keep it in the fridge for up to 5 days. Warm it in the microwave, a low oven, or in the skillet with the garlic before tossing with the pasta.
Storage: Leftovers will keep for up to 4 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator.