Orzo Salad with Crispy Bacon, White Beans & Spinach
This one is is a true pantry dish. It’s a side dish you make when you have a bunch of ingredients that you don’t know what to do with. Often, those make the best meals! Orzo is a short-grain pasta, shaped like rice. It’s such a versatile ingredient - it can pair nicely with a substantial protein, or it can stand by itself as the base of so many delicious things.
This great side dish, or lunch hits all the notes of a great meal - it’s got carbs, veggies, protein, vinegar and fresh herbs to balance it out. It’s light and refreshing, and comes together in just a few minutes. Make a big batch of this, and keep it your refrigerator for an anytime snack. Enjoy!
Ingredients
1 cup orzo
4-5 strips of bacon
1/2 tablespoon garlic, minced
Pinch of red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon crushed fennel
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 can of cannelloni beans, drained
2 tablespoons olive oil
Handful of spinach
Feta Cheese
A few tablespoons Italian Dressing
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Recipe
Preheat oven to 400 degrees
Place strips of bacon on baking sheet. Bake in oven for 15-20 minutes, or until it’s done to your liking
Drain and rinse 1 can of white cannelloni beans and place in medium sauce pan. To the sauce pan, add two tablespoons olive oil, 1/2 tablespoon garlic, pinch of red pepper flakes, 1 teaspoon crushed fennel, and 1 teaspoon oregano. Mix together, and place over medium heat. The goal here is to get the skin of the white beans a crispy. You want to stir as little as possible. When one side of the beans get crispy, stir gently to crisp the other side
To cook the orzo, bring a few cups of stock and/or water to a boil. Once boiling, add orzo to the liquid. Cook until done, about 8 minutes. Drain and let cool for a few minutes
To begin assembly, toss the orzo in a few tablespoons of Italian Dressing. You can use your favorite store bought dressing, or try my dressing from the Chopped Salad with Crispy Pepperoni, Arugula & Zesty Vinaigrette
Then, fold in the crispy beans into the orzo and mix. Top with pieces of chopped bacon, feta cheese, and ripped spinach
Serve warm, or cold. This makes great leftovers!
