Orzo is one of our favorite pasta shapes, because it is small and can be used in a wide variety of recipes. Our kids also love it because it’s easy for them to scoop!
What is orzo?
Orzo is a small, flat pasta that looks like rice, in the sense that it is long and narrow and just a little larger. It can be cooked like pasta, in a large pot of boiling, salted water, or similar to rice, in a one-pan method where it absorbs the majority of the cooking liquid as it simmers. Like all pasta, it is perfect for taking on a variety of different flavors and can be paired with vegetables, meat, other proteins, and your favorite pasta sauce. It is perfect for warm and cold preparations! See some of our favorite orzo recipes below, and let me know if you get a chance to try any!
How to cook orzo:
There are two methods for cooking orzo:
Traditional boiled method:
Simply bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, add the orzo pasta and cook until al dente, roughly 7-8 minutes (but always check the package and taste test for best results).
Rice method:
Bring 2 cups of salted water to a boil, then add in the uncooked orzo. Simmer for 8-10 minutes, until most of the liquid is absorbed.
Our favorite easy Orzo recipes:
