Spinach & Red Onion Orzo

Vegan and dairy, gluten, nut and sugar free

Ingredients

2 pounds fresh baby spinach
1 medium red onion, thinly sliced
3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh basil leaves
2 cloves garlic, minced
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
1 pound gluten-free orzo
¼ teaspoon sea salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
¼ cup pumpkin seeds
¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper
¼ cup Go Veggie! Dairy-Free Parmesan Cheese

Directions

In a food processor combine spinach, onion, basil, garlic and olive oil until smooth; set aside.

Cook orzo according to package. Remove from heat and drain.

Put orzo in a large bowl and add the spinach mixture, sea salt and pepper. Gently toss to combine.

Serve warm with pumpkin seeds and crushed red pepper.

Sprinkle with parmesan cheese just before serving.

Nutritional Analysis:
Calories: 510, Carbohydrates: 82 g, Protein: 12 g , Fat: 17 g , Cholesterol: 0 mg, Sodium: 520 mg , Fiber: 9 g

Recipe by Amie Valpone, a Manhattan-based personal chef, culinary marketing consultant, recipe developer and food writer who specializes in simple gluten-free recipes for the home cook. See our interview with Valpone about healthy eating on page 26. She blogs at thehealthyapple.com.

Nutritional analysis for recipes is created using Food Processor SQL nutrition and fitness software by ESHA. Recipes are analyzed per serving (unless otherwise indicated) for calories, fat, cholesterol, sodium, carbohydrates, fiber and protein. Nutrient amounts are approximate due to variations in brands, manufacturer, preparation and ingredient substitutions. When ingredient choices are listed, we use the first one. Nonspecific amounts, for example "to taste," and garnishes are not included.