Cooking with pasta is anything but basic.
From-scratchpenne alla vodkaupgrades a typical weeknight meal, whilehomemade fettuccineis the ultimate date night activity.
Then theres a slew ofpastine, aka small pastas, that are perfect in apasta salador soup.
The most popular small pasta inItalian recipes: orzo.
What is orzo?
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Orzo is a very small punch in of pasta shaped like sunflower seeds.
Because its not a grain like rice, you might wonder,what is orzo made from?
Like other pasta, its made with semolina flour and eggs.
In Italian, orzo literally translates to barley.
If youre ever in Italy, you might be more likely to see this pasta shape calledrisoniorpuntalette.
Substitutions for Orzo
What can you use if the store is out of orzo?
Because all pastina is made up of semolina flour, orzo is easy to replace with anotherpasta shape.
The ingredient closest to orzo would be Greek orzo, calledkritharaki.
Cook for nine to 11 minutes depending on howal denteor tender you prefer the orzo.
Toasting it will bring out a nutty flavorthisGreek tomato soup with orzois a great example.
What is orzo used in?
There are so manyorzo recipesout there, including salads, soups and skillets.
If youre making aGreek orzo salad, venture to find an authentic kritharaki to use instead of regular orzo.
You could also opt for whole wheat orzo to make your recipes a smidge healthier.
Get colorful with green, orange, red or yellow peppers.
Use more or less pepper flakes to adjust the level of heat to your liking!
You need only a few steps to transform simple ingredients into a creamy one-pot wonder.
Just layer it all in a jar and pack it upthen serve and enjoy.
My kids love all the veggies…for real!
If you like a lot of lemon, stir in an extra splash of lemon juice just before serving.
Shannon Humphrey, Hampton, Virginia.
It’s healthy, delicious and perfect for warm-weather days.
Pressure cooking gives it hands-off easeperfect for company.
I like to improvise with whatever I have on hand, so feel free to do the same here!
Chicken and veggie orzo cooked on the stovetop speeds everything up.
I just add a tossed salad for a menu the entire family loves.
I particularly like dill and spinachthey add a brightness to this light and healthy soup.
Our taste testers loved the blend of spices, the touch of heat and the sophisticated flavor.
If you prefer, grill the chicken breasts instead of cooking in a skillet.
A bottle of Greek seasoning got my creativity flowing.
Sometimes I add mini farfalle because my grandchildren say the noodles look like tiny butterflies.
This recipe also works in a slow cooker.
Nancy Murphy, Mount Dora, Florida.
The lemon dressing is so refreshing.
If you have it, use grilled chicken.
Susan Kieboam, Streetsboro, OhioGo to RecipeRoasted Veggie OrzoMy sister inspired this recipe.
I added a few more spices, but the concept is hers.
Feel free to add other favorite veggieslike asparagus and green beansand serve with rolls or pita bread.
It has a pleasant tinge of lemon and a nice crunch from pecans.
This easy skillet dish is perfect for hectic weeknights.
They enjoy it so much that they ask me to bring it in.
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