Parmesan and Spinach Orzo

Ingredients

• 2 cups orzo pasta
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 onions, diced
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 cups milk, warmed
• 4 cups roughly chopped spinach
• 1 1/2 cups grated Parmesan cheese
• Salt and ground black pepper to taste

Directions

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook orzo in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until cooked through but firm to the bite, about 11 minutes. Drain.

Heat olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat; cook and stir onions and garlic until onions are translucent, about 10 minutes. Stir flour into onion mixture and cook until lightly browned, 3 to 4 minutes.

Gradually pour milk into onion mixture while constantly beating with a whisk until sauce thickens, about 10 minutes. Add spinach to sauce and cook until spinach is slightly wilted, about 5 minutes.

Mix Parmesan cheese into spinach sauce; cook and stir until cheese is melted, about 5 minutes. Fold orzo into spinach sauce and season with salt and pepper.