make this meal for $7.77
is it just us, or does everyone love a recipe that works for lunch, dinner or even a side dish to a party ? This Kale & Cannellini Bean Warm Orzo Salad is easy to make and VERY filling. With the beans and pasta combination, this recipe is an easy and affordable way to feed a group of people. For $7.77 you can feed about 2-4 people as a main, and slightly more as a side dish. You can also feel free to double it up for larger events.
orzo pasta is one of my favorites pastas, it's size makes for a perfect addition to any pasta based salad. reminds me of thicker rice, tbh. in this recipe I love the pasta, mixed with the creaminess of the cannellini beans. It is honestly one of my favorite combinations. Tell us what you think in the comments!
ingredients:
4 garlic cloves
1 tbsp butter or oil
1 1/2 cup orzo pasta
1 cup cannellini beans (you can use dry beans or 1 can of beans works too)
1 cup stock or water
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 lemon (juiced)
1 bunch of kale or a large handful
1 tbsp smoked paprika
let's get started
this recipe is made all in one pan (minus the pasta cooking part), which future "me" appreciates when it comes to dishes time. You start by cooking the cannellini beans, just to make sure they are nice and soft. Next you start building the base for the sauce, or dressing, that ties all the ingredients together. Adding a bit of sour cream to make this dish a bit creamy. Then a little lemon juice for acidity, and kale for a little more bulk. The water that the pasta cooked in is the key to thickening the ingredients to become a cohesive warm salad.
instructions:
boil the pasta per the directions, when straining very important: save 1 cup of pasta water
in a large skillet, sauté chopped garlic in 1 tbsp butter
once garlic is golden in color, add in cooked cannellini beans + 1 cup stock + smoked paprika and salt + pepper
bring to a simmer, then lower heat and cover. let cook for 10 minutes.
add in sour cream and lemon juice, stir
stir in kale and let cook for 2-3 minutes
add in cooked pasta + pasta water and adjust heat to medium
once it's at a simmer, lower heat and let cover for 10 more minutes
**optional: top with red pepper flakes
(if you have a few more dollars...)
you can add this warm salad, on top of toast
replace sour cream with creme freche
add in sausage
top with parmesan or even goat cheese
**all pricing and cost information is an estimate based on market research from a standard large grocery store chain.