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A spoon taking a big scoop of cheese and tomato baked orzo.

Cheese and Tomato Baked Orzo with Lentils

A hearty and wholesome vegetarian baked orzo recipe, made irresistible with gooey cheese and a rich tomato sauce!
5 from 11 votes
Allergens: 🧀 Dairy 🍞 Gluten

(if you suffer from allergies, please double check all ingredients before eating)

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 469kcal
Author: Becca Heyes
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🖨 Recipe printed from www.easycheesyvegetarian.com

Scan QR code to see the full blog post, including useful tips and tricks, substitutions, serving suggestions, and more photos.

Ingredients

  • 125 g (~ 2/3 cup) dried red lentils
  • 1 large handful fresh spinach
  • 200 g (~ 1 cup) uncooked orzo
  • 400 g (~ 1 1/3 cups) canned chopped tomatoes
  • 1 Tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil (or other dried herbs)
  • 1 teaspoon garlic granules
  • 400 ml (~ 1 2/3 cups) vegetable stock
  • 150 g (~ 1 1/2 cups) grated cheese (I used a four cheese blend)
  • 1 large tomato, sliced

Instructions

  • Add the red lentils to a pan with plenty of water, and boil for around 8 minutes. The lentils don’t need to be fully cooked at this stage, just slightly softened. Drain the excess water.
    Red lentils cooking in a saucepan.
  • Spread the fresh spinach around the base of a baking dish (mine measured 8 x 8 inches).
    Spinach laid out in a baking dish.
  • Add the part-cooked lentils to the dish on top of the spinach, along with the uncooked orzo.
    Uncooked orzo in a baking dish.
  • Next add the canned tomatoes, tomato paste, dried basil, and garlic granules.
    Uncooked ingredients for cheese and tomato baked orzo in a baking dish.
  • Pour the vegetable stock over the top, and use a fork to gently mix everything, pushing everything down into the liquid. Try to make sure everything ends up submerged.
    Uncooked cheese and tomato baked orzo in a baking dish.
  • Bake at 190°C (Gas Mark 5 / 375°F) for around 25 minutes. The lentils and orzo should be almost fully soft.
    Tomato baked orzo in a baking dish.
  • Mix well, then sprinkle over the grated cheese, and lay out the slices of tomato on top.
    Baked orzo in a baking dish topped with grated cheese and slices of tomato.
  • Return the dish to the oven for a further 15-20 minutes, or until crisped up to your liking.
    Crispy cheese and tomato baked orzo in a baking dish topped with sliced tomatoes.
  • Serve warm.
    A baking dish of cheese and tomato baked orzo with a scoop removed.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Cheese and Tomato Baked Orzo with Lentils
Amount Per Serving (1 portion)
Calories 469 Calories from Fat 126
% Daily Value*
Fat 14g22%
Saturated Fat 8g40%
Cholesterol 39mg13%
Sodium 356mg15%
Potassium 743mg21%
Carbohydrates 62.1g21%
Fiber 12.6g50%
Sugar 5g6%
Protein 24.6g49%
Calcium 335mg34%
Iron 6mg33%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Nutritional information is approximate, and will depend on your exact ingredients. Please calculate your own nutritional values if you require accuracy for health reasons.