Soft and subtly chewy orzo served with sautéed onion, mushrooms, spinach, and flavor packed vegan italian sausage. Add in white wine and parmesan for a bit of bite in this creamy orzo salad.
I’d describe this orzo recipe as comfort food made healthy. It’s perfect for when the pasta + cheese cravings strike, but you also want something light and fresh. Plus it has less than 10 ingredients and takes under 30 minutes to make. Doesn’t get much better than that!
For more pasta love, check out this all time favorite, 6 Ingredient Vegan Alfredo Sauce. It’s creamy and ‘cheesy’ thanks to nutritional yeast and pairs perfectly with pasta and some sautéed veggies!
Ingredients
Mushrooms – I love the texture plus flavor of mushrooms for this dish. Before slicing them, use a damp towel to gently brush/wash any dirt off of them. I prefer this method vs rinsing with water as it keeps them from getting too wet and soggy as mushrooms are extremely absorbent !
Garlic – Fresh garlic cloves add great flavor to this dish!
Red Onion – I enjoy the bite of red onion, but yellow or white onions would taste just as delicious.
White Wine – Used to cook the veggies and to add a pop of subtle flavor. If you’d rather not use white wine, substitute with 1/4 cup vegetable broth.
Orzo – To make this gluten free orzo I used Jovial cassava flour pasta. The orzo tasted just like normal wheat orzo with the perfect chewy, yet soft texture.
Spinach – Best to use fresh spinach as frozen will release too much moisture and get soggy.
Parmesan Cheese – Adds the perfect cheesy bite to this orzo recipe. Leave out or swap for a vegan option if needed.
Vegan Italian Sausage – My go-to for vegan sausage is Pure Farmland. The italian sausage links are the perfect addition to this meal.
How to Cook Orzo
I recommend preparing the orzo first since the rest of the dish comes together so quickly. The cooking time may vary depending on the brand you use but otherwise it cooks more like rice than pasta. You’ll want to do a 2:1 ratio, 2 cups water for 1 cup orzo. Bring the mixture to a boil then simmer and cook according to package instructions.
If you wanted to add a step for some added flavor though, give this a try. Toast the orzo with a little oil or butter in a skillet for a few minutes until the orzo starts to get a golden and toasty hue + aroma. Add water (or vegetable broth) to the skillet/pot in a 2:1 ratio then cook as you normally would!
How to Prepare this Gluten Free Orzo Recipe
- Heat a large skillet to medium heat and add 2 tbsp olive oil. Once hot, add diced red onion and cook for 2-3 minutes or until onion starts to turn translucent. Add sliced mushrooms, garlic, salt, and pepper and cook for an additional 3-5 minutes until mushrooms start to brown.
- Next, add the white wine and cook for 1-2 minutes or until mostly cooked off.
- Turn heat to low and finish by stirring in cooked orzo, fresh spinach, grated parmesan, and vegan sausage. Add additional salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste.
- Remove from heat and serve immediately. Garnish with thick-cut shaved parmesan and chopped parsley. Enjoy!
Is Orzo Gluten Free?
Some of you might be wondering, what even is orzo? And beyond that, is it actually gluten free? Keep reading because I’ve got the answers.
To start off, orzo is not naturally gluten free because it is after all, pasta. While it looks like rice, orzo is made from traditional wheat as a form of pasta. That being said, we live in a time with so much food evolution that there is in fact gluten free orzo available.
I love using Jovial gluten free orzo because it’s gluten free (and grain free!) but has the same great flavor + texture of traditional orzo. You can’t beat that!
Healthy Comfort Food Recipes
If you’re looking for more comfort food recipes made better-for-you, check out these blog favorites.
Roasted Red Pepper Pasta – Al dente pasta with sauteed onions and zucchini tossed in a creamy roasted red pepper sauce. Brimming with fresh flavor, the roasted red peppers and harissa bring a mildly sweet yet spicy experience to this pasta!
Lemon Basil Pasta with Seared Scallops – The sweet sautéed summer corn and garlic is combined with a creamy lemon basil sauce and crisp seared scallops all overtop a bed of al dente pasta. This scallop pasta dish is light and flavorful while also satisfying those cozy comfort food cravings!
If you try this recipe (or any of the above), please let me know by leaving a comment and rating in the boxes below! I always love to hear from you and it helps other people find this recipe when they search online for the BEST Gluten Free Orzo recipe 🙂
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- ½ red onion diced
- 1, 8 oz container mushrooms cut in half and sliced thin
- 6 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp ground pepper
- ¼ cup white wine
- 8 oz orzo cooked according to package instructions
- 2 cups fresh spinach packed
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
- 3 Vegan Italian Sausage cooked according to package instructions and cut into slices
Garnish:
- ¼ cup thick-cut shaved parmesan
- ¼ cup chopped parsley
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet to medium heat and add 2 tbsp olive oil. Once hot, add diced red onion and cook for 2-3 minutes or until onion starts to turn translucent. Add sliced mushrooms, garlic, salt, and pepper and cook for an additional 3-5 minutes until mushrooms start to brown.
- Next, add the white wine and cook for 1-2 minutes or until mostly cooked off.
- Turn heat to low and finish by stirring in cooked orzo, fresh spinach, grated parmesan, and vegan sausage. Add additional salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste.
- Remove from heat and serve immediately. Garnish with thick-cut shaved parmesan and chopped parsley. Enjoy!
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What is the nutritional value for the Gluten Free Orzo with Vegan Italian Sausage?
Hi Lynn! I don’t personally calculate that information, but there are sites where you can do that online! – Casey