Caprese Orzo Bake
with fresh mozzarella
Here's a fresh and easy veggie dinner the entire family will enjoy! Orzo is tossed with basil pesto and veggies, then topped with mozzarella cheese – all baked until gooey. It's a perfect pasta bake that's melt-in-your-mouth good!
The quantities provided above are averages only.
Produced in a facility that processes eggs, milk, fish, peanuts, sesame, shellfish, soy, tree nuts, and wheat.
Ingredients
170 g
Orzo
(Contains: Wheat)
125 g
Fresh Mozzarella
(Contains: Milk)
132 g
Marinara Sauce
¼ cup
Basil Pesto
(Contains: Milk)
113 g
Baby Tomatoes
28 g
Baby Spinach
2 unit(s)
Garlic, cloves
1 tbsp
Italian Herb Spice Blend
113 g
Yellow Onion
Not included in your delivery
1 tbsp
Butter*
(Contains: Milk)
1 tbsp
Oil*
¼ tsp
Salt*
¼ tsp
Sugar*
¼ tsp
Pepper*
Nutrition Values
Utensils
Cooking Steps
Preheat the oven to 450°F and bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Wash and dry all produce. Start the recipe when the oven is ready and water is boiling. To the boiling water, add orzo. Cook for 8-10 min, stirring occasionally, until tender but still firm to the bite. Reserve 1/3 cup (2/3 cup) pasta water. Strain orzo, then return to the pot, off heat. Stir in 1 tbsp (2 tbsp) butter and season with salt and pepper, to taste.
Meanwhile, peel, then cut onion into 1/4-inch pieces. Halve tomatoes, then season with salt and pepper. Peel, then mince or grate garlic. Roughly chop spinach. Cut mozzarella into 1/4-inch rounds.
In a large non-stick pan, heat 1 tbsp (2 tbsp) oil over medium-high heat. When the pan is hot, add onions. Cook for 4-6 min, stirring occasionally, until tender. Season with salt and pepper. Reduce heat to medium, then add garlic and Italian Herb Spice Blend. Cook for 1 min, stirring often, until fragrant. Stir in marinara sauce, pesto, spinach, reserved pasta water and 1/4 tsp (1/2 tsp) sugar. Cook for 2-3 min, stirring occasionally, until sauce reduces slightly and spinach wilts.
To the pot with orzo, add sauce mixture and tomatoes, then stir to combine. Transfer orzo mixture to a greased 8x8-inch baking dish (9x13-inch for 4 portions). Arrange mozzarella rounds on top, then season with salt and pepper. Bake on the middle rack of the oven for 6-10 min, until cheese melts.
Divide caprese orzo pasta bake between plates. Enjoy!
