This post is all about how to make a Dairy Free and Gluten Free Orzo Pasta side dish with spinach.

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Published December 22, 2023
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Varieties of Gluten Free Pastas

There are SO many varieties of Gluten Free pastas on the market today as compared to a decade ago. Shapes, flavors, and colors are all now available in many types of blends.

Casava flour pasta, chickpea pasta, brown rice pasta, rice noodles, Soba noodles, almond flour pasta, yellow pea flour pasta, red lentil pasta, millet and brown rice pasta are all a few varieties of Gluten Free pastas available.

There are also most varieties of shapes made from Gluten Free blends. You can buy them for making lasagna, elbows, farfalle, penne, linguini, spaghetti, rice and much more.

Most major retailers also carry Gluten Free varieties.

For this recipe for Gluten Free Orzo Pasta, a Casava flour blend Orzo-shaped pasta was used.

Gluten Free Orzo Pasta Recipe

Ingredients for Gluten Free Orzo Pasta

4 Tbsp Butter
1 cup Uncooked Gluten Free Orzo Pasta
14-oz Water
2 tsp Chicken Soup Base
1 Tbsp Minced Garlic
10-oz Spinach
1/2 cup Shredded Dairy Free Mozzarella
Salt and Pepper to taste

Directions for Gluten Free Orzo Pasta

In a medium saucepan, melt 2 tablespoons Dairy Free Butter. You can also add 2 Tbsp oil to the pan with the Dairy Free butter.

If you need to have your recipe gluten free AND dairy free, make sure the ingredients are clearly listed as such. Not all are created equal, and you do have to check the ingredients well.

When melted, add the 1 cup Gluten Free Orzo Pasta and sauté until golden brown, making sure to stir often. This specific pasta is a Casava flour orzo pasta.

This specific Gluten Free Orzo Pasta does not brown easily. Make sure to stir it often, try not to let it burn, and keep the heat on a nice medium heat. When golden brown, add 14-oz water and 2 tsp Gluten Free Soup Base and then stir well. If you want to use stock instead of soup base, use a Gluten Free variety.

Add 14-oz water and 2 tsp Gluten Free Chicken Base, or 14-oz Gluten Free Chicken Stock and then bring to a boil. There are many soup bases that are Gluten Free as opposed to chicken stock which is not always Gluten Free. You may need to shop around to find the best one for your needs.

Reduce the heat, cover, and then simmer for 15 minutes. Just make sure that while the Gluten Free Orzo is simmering that there is enough water, so it does not burn.

In a sink colander, rinse the spinach and then chop into small pieces on a cutting board, then set aside.

On a cutting board, peel, smash and mince the garlic, then set aside. More garlic is always better for this recipe! Feel free to add more for this recipe if desired.

Melt 2 Tbsp Dairy Free Butter in a small saucepan on medium heat.

Add the minced garlic to the Dairy Free melted butter in the small saucepan and sauté for 30 seconds or until just fragrant.

Add the chopped spinach to the minced garlic and sauté until wilted, around 2 to 5-minutes, stirring often. The spinach will wilt down as it sautés.

Then turn off the heat and let the spinach wilt in the pan on the warm burner. The spinach will wilt down to a very small amount, this is completely normal.

When the orzo is fully cooked and no longer crunchy, add the cooked and wilted spinach and stir well until combined. The simmering time for the Gluten Free Orzo may vary depending on the pan, stove and timing. Don’t overcook this pasta, as it will then just be too mushy and no longer Orzo Pasta shaped.

Sprinkle the top with Dairy Free Parmesan Cheese and if desired, cover the pan with a lid and let it rest 5 minutes before serving. Some Dairy Free cheeses do melt while others just stay in their shape. Dairy Free cheese can be found in many large chain grocery stores. It can be found shredded and in slices. Some melts easier than others while others do not. Choose whichever cheese you desire.

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For other Gluten Free recipes, this amazingly simple recipe for a Dairy Free Hashbrown Breakfast bake will sure win over any picky eater.

Another Gluten Free recipe is a Gluten Free Sheet Pan Sausage and Potatoes recipe.

Both of these recipes are easy to make and crowd favorites in our house, I hope you enjoy them as well.

This post was all about how to make a Dairy Free and Gluten Free Orzo Pasta.
~Monica

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