Asparagus egg bake with orzo, spinach, and a combination of feta, ricotta and creme fraiche. It's a perfect dish for any brunch.
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About 30 of us are coming together this weekend to celebrate Easter, the coming of Spring, and a few birthdays. There will be music, romantic dancing, a stellar sunset over the Lake, and a pot luck dinner we're all contributing to. The temperatures will be cold, but we'll be all tucked inside a cabin perched high above a very un-Spring-like Lake Tahoe, kept warm by good food, wine, laughter, and friendship.
Gatherings like this are the perfect opportunity to try out a new dish you've had on the sidelines, and casseroles are the perfect thing. They're transportable, can be cooked ahead of time, and are designed for a crowd. If you have an event like this coming up, save this recipe. If not, go ahead and make it for dinner tonight. Your family will thank you!
More Favorite Brunch Dishes
A favorite at our house is a German Pancake with Sweetened Ricotta and Sliced Strawberries.
This 4 Ingredient Puff Pastry Asparagus Tart with Cheese is another. It's very easy to make and a hit with any party.
And if you like soufflés, but not the fuss, make these herbed goat cheese soufflés.
This chiles rellenos egg bake casserole is a fantastic egg bake for a bunch if you like Mexican food.
This dish is perfect for either brunch or dinner. If you're looking for more brunch dishes, check out my page for Breakfast and Brunch Dishes.
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Asparagus Egg Bake with Orzo
Ingredients
- 1 cup uncooked orzo pasta
- 2 teaspoons olive oil plus more for the pan
- 1 large leek white and light green parts only, thinly sliced
- 2 cups asparagus sliced into 1-inch pieces
- 2 large garlic cloves minced
- 1 ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon ground pepper
- 2 cups baby spinach
- â…“ cup feta cheese crumbles
- 3 large eggs
- â…“ cup ricotta cheese
- â…“ cup creme fraîche
- â…“ cup heavy cream
- 2 teaspoons lemon zest
Optional Toppings
- 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
- ¼ cup breadcrumbs (I use gremolata breadcrumbs)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F, and butter an 8-inch X 8-inch baking dish.
- Fill a medium pot with salted water and bring to a boil. Cook the orzo until al dente, about 5-7 minutes. Drain and set aside.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, and add the sliced leeks and asparagus. Sauté until softened, about 10 minutes. Stir in the garlic, salt, thyme, and black pepper, and cook for an additional 2 minutes. Turn off the heat and fold in the hot, cooked orzo, the baby spinach, and feta cheese. Set aside.
- Whisk together the eggs, ricotta cheese, creme fraîche and cream in a large mixing bowl until smooth. Stir in the zest. Fold the orzo asparagus mixture into the egg mixture with a wooden spoon, and pour into the prepared baking dish. Tuck the spinach as much as possible into the liquid. Cover with foil.Bake for 40 - 50 minutes, or until the top is slightly browned along the edges and the center is set. Top with grated Parmesan cheese and bread crumbs, if desired. Cool for 10 minutes before serving.
Rita
Sounds deelish. I may use kale in place of chard. tbd
The Wimpy Vegetarian
Thanks Rita! Kale would work great too! I'd love to hear what you think if you make it. A very happy Easter to you and your family 🙂
Janet
This dish sound delish with so many yummy ingredients. I think I will try it and add this to my Easter buffet for Sunday dinner. It sounds like you are going to have an amazing Easter - you work so hard providing us with so many different and delicious recipes so enjoy!
The Wimpy Vegetarian
Thanks so much, Janet! I really appreciate your kind words. Many years, we don't have plans for Easter - or it's a very simple meal, but this year will be a lot of fun and we're very much looking forward to it. I like both a quiet celebration and more boisterous ones too, but for very different reasons :-).
Janet
Just a quick update Susan. This dish was delish and everyone had seconds from our Easter buffet. They loved it because it was so different from mash potatoes and green bean casserole plus I was asked for the recipe as well. Told them about your food blog so you may be getting some new Canadian subscribers.Thanks again and hope you had a great Easter!
The Wimpy Vegetarian
Thank you so much for letting me know how it came out for you!!! I really appreciate it, and am so happy everyone liked it. Yay team! And thanks for recommending my blog to others. That's really generous of you - thanks!!
Rach's Recipes
This dish truly hit the spot! I added spinach and some mozzarella. My parents and husband loved it. Will be making again soon. Thank you!
The Wimpy Vegetarian
Yay!!!! Thanks so much for letting me know. I'm so happy you guys liked it. Spinach and mozzarella would be great in this!