Reviewed: May 11, 2013

This is an awesome recipe! I made enough to take to lunch for work but ended up eating it all! I didn't follow the recipe to the fullest, though. I left out the tomatoes and vinegar and instead of Feta I used Goat Cheese. The next time I make it (tonight :) ) I think i am going to use less EVO and butter.

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Reviewer:

Jeremy

Home Town: Vass, North Carolina, USA

Reviewed: Feb. 18, 2013

So yummy! I followed the recipe exactly but threw in a handful of diced red onion at the end to keep them crunchy. I also used halved cherry tomatoes because it is what I had on hand. To keep the cost down, I think I will replace the very expensive pine nuts with slivered almonds next time.

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Reviewer:

welldone

Cooking Level: Intermediate

Home Town: Little Elm, Texas, USA

Living In: San Francisco, California, USA

Reviewed: Oct. 15, 2012

This is one of the most delicious orzo recipes I've ever made/tasted! Like other people, I would suggest making 1/2 a box of orzo and definitely doubling the spinach! I also toss in 1 whole tomato chopped, instead of 1/2. I really like onions, so I sauté 1/2 a medium onion, chopped with the garlic, basil & crushed red pepper before browning the pine nuts. To make things more spicy, I add 1 tsp of crushed red pepper instead of the 1/2 tsp. Finally, I do without the cheese and it tastes just as yummy!

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Reviewer:

honey_17th

Cooking Level: Intermediate

Reviewed: Oct. 2, 2012

This is a simple dish that looks "elegant" and tastes amazing! I didn't use the pine nuts as they were too expensive and the dish was still amazing.

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Reviewer:

Marcy163

Reviewed: Jun. 27, 2012

LOVED it! I decided on this recipe to go with grilled salmon and portobello mushrooms as I had spinach that needed using up. I cut the recipe in half and opted to only use 1-2 tablespoons at most of olive oil (leaving out the butter). I didn't feel the quantity or both ingredients were necessary (lots of extra calories to an already calorie rich dish!). As I was out of pine nuts, I decided not to sub another nut in their place. While adding slivered almonds would have been great, again, the calorie thing made me chose otherwise! The balsamic, feta and tomatoes add the perfect finishing touch to an amazing dish!

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Reviewer:

ANJACKSON

Cooking Level: Expert

Home Town: Pickering, Ontario, Canada

Living In: Oshawa, Ontario, Canada

Reviewed: Jun. 26, 2012

I have made this twice, and it is really good. I do find that the wilted spinach likes to clump together and is hard to separate when adding to the orzo. I might try cutting up the spinach before or after the cooking stage. Also, I feel the dish may need a little more crunch. The pine nuts add some, but I may try adding cucumber next time.

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Reviewer:

luv2cook

Cooking Level: Intermediate

Home Town: Dana Point, California, USA

Living In: Laguna Niguel, California, USA

Reviewed: Jun. 3, 2012

What a great side dish, particularly if you are looking for something a little different. As another reviewer noted, without the balsamic vinegar (and I would add the feta cheese and tomatoes), all of which are added at the end, this would be a very bland dish (albeit quite attractive looking). But with the vinegar, cheese, and tomatoes, the side dish really takes off. The recipe is also much easier to prepare than one might assume when viewing the list of ingredients. Excellent.

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CURTISLEE

Cooking Level: Intermediate

Home Town: Valley, Nebraska, USA

Living In: Omaha, Nebraska, USA

Reviewed: May 12, 2012

Very pretty! I also agree that this is somewhat bland--the balsamic vinegar makes it, so don't be hesitant with it. I added some wine to deglaze the pan since the herb and garlic mixture starting sticking, so I added a bit more flavor of my own. Bf wouldn't like this, so it's a good thing we still have leftover stuffed peppers and chicken with rice for him to have! Thanks for the recipe.

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Reviewer:

pomplemousse

Cooking Level: Intermediate

Home Town: Pendleton, Oregon, USA

Living In: Dumfries, Virginia, USA

Reviewed: Mar. 26, 2012

only add add 1/2 cup pine nuts.. all i had on hand.. very good and looks good also..

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Reviewer:

TheresaK

Cooking Level: Intermediate

Reviewed: Mar. 19, 2012

Great flavors! I also cut the oil and butter in half, plus added sliced chicken breasts that I had seasoned with garlic salt and browned. Will definitely make this again!

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