This Creamy Tuscan Orzo is vegan, dairy-free, & packed with flavor. If you are looking for a comforting weeknight dinner recipe, then you will love this orzo risotto with spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, cannellini beans, and Italian spices!
Orzo is one of my absolute favorite pasta shapes and today we're cooking it just like risotto for the creamiest dish!
If you loved my Vegan Lemon Orzo Chickpea Soup or my Vegan Pumpkin Risotto, then this creamy vegan orzo is going to be right up your alley!
Ingredients:
Ingredient notes:
- Canned Coconut Milk: This makes this dish super creamy! If you don't like the taste of coconut milk, you can substitute it for another plant-based milk like oat milk or soy milk. Just keep in mind, the dish will be slightly less creamy.
- Shallots: I LOVE shallots, so I always use them when I get the chance. However, they can easily be substituted for 1 small white/yellow onion for similar results.
- Vegetable broth: I used store-bought vegetable broth, however you can also make your own homemade vegetable broth from veggie scraps and use that!
How to make creamy vegan orzo
Saute shallots and garlic
The first step to making this vegetarian orzo extra flavorful is to saute the shallots and garlic in vegan butter until fragrant.
Don't skip this step as it really adds a lot of flavor to this creamy orzo pasta.
Toast orzo and spices
Next, add the orzo pasta, tomato paste, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper to toast for around 1 minute.
Toasting the orzo pasta gives it an extra chewy flavor. Also, toasting the tomato paste and spices really helps to bring out their flavor.
Add in remaining ingredients & cook
Once toasted, add in the vegetable broth, coconut milk, cannellini beans, and chopped sun-dried tomatoes. Stir until everything is well mixed and then cook until the orzo is cooked through and creamy.
Make sure to consistently stir this vegan orzo risotto while it is cooking so that the orzo doesn't stick to the bottom of the pan.
Add spinach and continue cooking
Once the orzo is fully cooked, add in the fresh spinach, stir, and cook another 2 minutes until al dente. The end result will be a truly delicious creamy Tuscan orzo!
Add toppings & serve
The final step to making this creamy orzo pasta? Adding toppings of course!
This step is totally optional, but I really feel that topping this dish with chopped cherry tomatoes, fresh basil, and vegan parmesan is the absolute best idea.
P.S- I really prefer Violife Vegan Parmesan but you can also make a homemade vegan parmesan to top this vegan orzo!
FAQ & Tips:
Can I make this recipe gluten-free?
Orzo is a wheat-based pasta and is not gluten-free. While you may potentially be able to substitute arborio rice into this recipe, it may require more liquid. I haven't personally tried it so if you do let me know!
What pot works best to cook orzo risotto?
I really prefer cooking this dish in a large dutch oven or cocotte. The pot I used in this recipe is the Staub Cocotte in Blueberry which I absolutely love!
You could also cook this vegan orzo recipe in a larger pan, but make sure it is deep enough to fit all the liquid in this recipe.
How do I store this vegan orzo pasta?
This creamy Tuscan Orzo is best stored in a closed container in the fridge for 3-5 days or in the freezer for up to 1 month.
I also highly recommend adding the basil, cherry tomatoes, and vegan parmesan right before serving.
I truly hope you love this Creamy Vegan Tuscan Orzo! If you are looking for an orzo recipe with spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, and packed with flavor- this is the recipe for you. Enjoy!
-TSG
More vegetarian pasta recipes you will love:
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Creamy Tuscan Orzo
Ingredients
Tuscan Orzo:
- 2 shallots thinly sliced
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 3 Tablespoons vegan butter
- 1 ½ cups dried orzo pasta
- 1 Tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- salt & pepper to taste
- 4 cups vegetable broth add more if needed
- 13.5 ounce can full fat coconut milk
- 1 cup cooked cannellini beans
- ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes chopped
- 3 cups fresh spinach
Optional Toppings:
- ½ cup cherry tomatoes cut in half
- fresh basil
- vegan parmesan
Instructions
- First, prep the veggies by thinly slicing the shallots and mincing the garlic. Set aside.
- Next, add the vegan butter to the pot and melt over medium heat.
- Once the butter has melted, add in the shallots and garlic. Cook for 3-5 minutes until the shallots are translucent and the garlic is fragrant.
- Next, add in the dried orzo, tomato paste, Italian spices, and salt and pepper to your liking. Stir together to toast everything in the pot for about 1 minute.
- Then, pour in the vegetable broth, canned coconut milk, cannellini beans, and sundried tomatoes.
- Stir together and cook the orzo uncovered on medium heat for about 15-20 minutes or until the orzo has fully cooked through and is al dente. It is important to continuously stir the orzo while it is cooking so it does not stick to the bottom of the pot.
- Next, add the fresh spinach and stir it into the cooked orzo. Continue cooking everything together for another 2 minutes. If desired, season with additional salt and pepper at this time.
- Remove the orzo from the heat and serve immediately with slicing cherry tomatoes, fresh basil, and vegan parmesan. Enjoy!
Notes
- Orzo can be stored in a closed container in the fridge for 3-5 days or in the freezer for up to 1 month.
- I prefer using Voilife Vegan Parmesan as a topping.
- To make this recipe I used the Staub Cocotte in Blueberry
Kristan says
This was delicious, thank you Megan! Creamy and decadent, just what we needed on a cold day. I added some baby portabellos to sneak in more veggies. Cheers from Australia.
Megan says
So happy you liked it- mushrooms sound like the best addition 🙂
Diane says
This is so delicious. Great flavors and a comforting dish. This will be great for a crowd. Xoxo
Megan says
So happy you liked it!! 🙂