Orzo with Spinach and Feta

Brain, not brawn: Popeye might have downed spinach to get big muscles, but if he'd been smarter, he'd have known the leafy green powerhouse gets its real punch from abundant antioxidants, which can keep you thinking sharply.

Yield: 8 servings (serving size: 1 cup)

Ingredients

• 5  cups  water
• 2  cups  uncooked orzo (rice-shaped pasta)
• 5  cups  coarsely chopped spinach
• 1  cup  (4 ounces) crumbled feta cheese
• 1  tablespoon  extra-virgin olive oil
• 1  teaspoon  grated lemon rind
• 1  tablespoon  fresh lemon juice
• 1/2  teaspoon  salt

Preparation

Bring water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add orzo. Cook 10 minutes; drain. Rinse with cold water; drain.

Combine pasta, spinach, and feta in a large bowl. Combine oil and remaining ingredients in a small bowl. Drizzle lemon mixture over pasta mixture; toss well to coat.

Nutritional Information

Calories:

244 (23% from fat)

Fat:

5.5g (sat 2.5g,mono 2g,poly 0.6g)

Protein:

8.5g

Carbohydrate:

33.8g

Fiber:

2.4g

Cholesterol:

13mg

Iron:

2.7mg

Sodium:

335mg

Calcium:

113mg