orzo

what is it?

Orzo is a small pasta that’s similar in size and shape to rice, and can resemble risotto in both flavor and richness when cooked and combined with broth and cheese. This tiny pasta is a great addition to soups and makes a wonderful pasta salad. Side dishes made with orzo are also particularly nice with rich braises, roasted meats and poultry, or anything with a pan sauce that can mingle with the pasta.

how to prep:

In general, cooking orzo is like cooking any other pasta; just check frequently to avoid overcooking, as it can turn to mush if ignored. You’ll want to bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil and add a generous amount of salt before adding the orzo—the water should taste almost like seawater (the pasta absorbs only a small amount of the salt). The cooking time will vary depending on the brand, but you can anticipate that it will cook in slightly less time than other pastas.