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orzo zucchini bake

One Pan Zucchini and Eggplant Orzo Bake

Anna Chwistek
Easy-to-make weeknight meal that's packed with vegetables, hearty ground meat and flavorful orzo pasta. A one pan wonder, so cleanup is a breeze. In about 40 minutes, you’ll have a satisfying meal that the whole family will love.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course One Pot
Cuisine European
Servings 4
Calories 450 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

  • olive oil
  • 1 large zucchini cut into thin slices
  • sea salt + black pepper to taste
  • 4 garlic cloves minced, divided
  • 12 ounces ground pork
  • 1 eggplant diced
  • 1 small onion finely chopped
  • ½ tsp smoked paprika
  • ½ tsp dried thyme
  • ½ tsp chili flakes
  • 7 ounces cherry tomatoes halved
  • 1 cup puréed tomatoes
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • ¾ cup orzo pasta
  • 4 ounces eta cheese
  • 6 ounces grated mozzarella

Instructions
 

  • Cut the zucchini in thin slices, mince the garlic, finely chop the onion and halve the tomatoes.
  • Heat 3 tbsp olive oil in a deep large ovenproof pan. Add zucchini, 2 minced garlic cloves, salt, pepper and a pinch of chili flakes. Sauté over medium high heat for 1 minut, then cover and cook on low heat for 5 minutes. Remove from pan. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
  • In the meantime, dice the eggplant.
  • In the same pan, heat 2 tbsp olive oil. Add ground pork and cook until lightly browned. Add the remaining garlic, onion and eggplant. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently, on medium heat. Season with salt, pepper, smoked paprika and thyme.
  • Stir in the cherry tomatoes, then pour in the puréed tomatoes and chicken broth. Then stir in the orzo, bring to a boil, cover and simmer on very low heat for 10 minutes or until the orzo is al dente and the sauce has thickened slightly. Stir frequently with a wooden spoon to prevent orzo from sticking to the bottom of the pan.
  • In the meantime, preheat the oven to 200°C.
  • Turn off the heat, crumble the feta cheese on top of the orzo, without stirring. Top with zucchini and sprinkle with mozzarella. Transfer to the oven and bake for 8-10 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 450kcalCarbohydrates: 32gProtein: 24gFat: 25gSaturated Fat: 11gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 88mgSodium: 603mgPotassium: 729mgFiber: 5gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 598IUVitamin C: 15mgCalcium: 185mgIron: 2mg
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