baked orzo with Swiss chard and feta with tomato and dill

The key to this dish is seasoning as you go with the addition of each ingredient.

baked orzo with Swiss chard and feta with tomato and dill

January 4, 2018

The key to this dish is seasoning as you go with the addition of each ingredient.

When you do, the dish takes on a depth of flavor that is rich and intoxicating. Dill and feta are always a gorgeous combination, but especially when stirred through a thick tomatoey pasta dish laced with swiss chard.

What you’ll need:
1 large leek
1 bunch Swiss chard
1 clove garlic
¼ teaspoon dried red pepper flakes
1 tablespoon double concentrated tomato paste
9 oz beefsteak tomato
2/3 cup whole wheat orzo pasta
2 oz feta cheese few sprigs of fresh dill
olive oil
coarse salt
freshly ground black pepper

Equipment:
oven-safe skillet

Recipe steps:

  1. Prep vegetables
    Remove root end from leek and finely chop. Rinse leek well in a bowl of water, then drain. Wash swiss chard, then remove stems and finely chop. Roll up leaves and cut crosswise into ribbons. Peel and finely chop garlic. Remove stems from tomatoes, then chop.

  2. Cook vegetables
    Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Add leeks, chard stems, garlic, and half to all of the red pepper flakes (depending on your heat preference), and season with salt. Cook, stirring, until vegetables are softened, about 4 minutes.

  3. Add tomato paste
    Move vegetables to the sides of the pan and add tomato paste in the center. Cook tomato paste, stirring, 1 minute.

  4. Stir in chard leaves
    Add chard leaves and season with salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until wilted, about 3 minutes.

  5. Cook pasta
    Add chopped tomatoes, orzo, 1 ¼ cups water and season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and let simmer until water is reduced and orzo is tender, about 14 minutes. Preheat broiler to high with rack in the middle of the oven.

  6. Stir in dill and feta
    Crumble feta and remove dill sprigs from stems. Finely chop dill (you should have about 2 ½ tablespoons). Stir in ½ the feta and all the dill into the orzo and season with salt and pepper to taste. Scatter the remaining feta over the top and broil until bubbling and feta is somewhat melted, about 5 minutes. Enjoy!

Ready to go from home cook to head chef?

Get delicious delivered and skip the hassle of planning, prepping, and shopping.

Related articles