How to Cook Orzo: A Simple Guide for Perfect Results

What is Orzo?

Though often confused with rice, due to its similar size and shape, orzo is actually a kind of pasta. Part of a category of small pastas known as pastina, it is commonly used in soups, stews, casseroles and salads. Orzo is made from %100 enriched durum semolina wheat and is dried to make it shelf stable. Just like other types of pasta, orzo is available in different varieties, such as whole wheat and tri-color, made with spinach and tomatoes.

Is Orzo Rice or Pasta?

The shape of orzo may resemble a large grain of rice, however, while both are rich in carbohydrates, these two plant-based ingredients are quite different. Rice is an edible cereal grain derived from a plant. Pasta, on the other hand, is made from a wheat-based dough. So, when considering the difference between, say, arborio rice vs orzo, remember that one is derived from a plant and the other is a shaped dough.

Is Orzo Gluten-Free?

Unlike rice, which is naturally gluten-free, orzo is a type of pasta that is made from wheat and therefore contains gluten. Though some gluten-free brands of orzo exist, it’s important to read labels carefully when eating gluten-free is the goal.

Orzo to Water Ratio

Want to be let in on a little secret? If you can boil water, you can cook orzo. It’s really that simple! When cooking rice, a specific rice-to-water ratio is crucial. The same isn’t really true of orzo, where less measuring is required. To cook orzo perfectly, we recommend a ratio of 4 cups of water to 1 cup of orzo. This is to ensure that the orzo is completely covered when cooking. If you prefer not to measure, simply fill a small-medium sized pot with water, season with salt, and bring to a boil.

How Long to Cook Orzo?

RiceSelect® Orzo cooks in 8-10 hands-off minutes, making it a quick and easy go-to when you’re pressed for time. Once cooked, orzo should be drained immediately and added to a dish, or tossed in a little oil, to prevent clumping.

Depending on how you plan to use it, you may want to cook orzo for a few minutes less than recommended. When you plan to add orzo to a piping hot sauce, soup or stew, drain it a couple of minutes before it is fully cooked. For pasta salads, or to serve orzo as a side dish, cook it for the full 8-10 minutes.

Ingredients

Making perfect orzo requires little more than orzo, water and salt. Then again, there’s nothing stopping you from zhuzhing up this neutral ingredient! You can flavor orzo from the get-go or transform it into a zesty, creamy or saucy masterpiece once cooked.

Ingredients:

• 4 cups water

• 1 cup orzo

• 1/2 tsp salt (optional)

• 2 tsp butter (optional)

Instructions

This recipe yields 3 cups of cooked orzo.

• Bring water to a boil in a medium pot.

• Add salt, if using.

• Stir in orzo and cook, uncovered, for 8-10 minutes.

• Drain and return orzo to pot. Stir in butter, if using.

How to Cook Orzo in Chicken Broth for Extra Flavor

Wondering how to cook orzo in chicken broth? Simply replace the water with broth, or add a bouillon cube to season the water as it comes to a boil. To flavor orzo as it cooks, you can also add herbs, spices or citrus peels to the water.

Tips and Tricks for Cooking Orzo Like a Pro

• When deciding how much orzo to cook, first consider how you plan to use it. If it will be served as a main dish, you’ll want about 1 cup of cooked orzo per person. Keep in mind that orzo grows as it cooks, so 1 cup of uncooked orzo yields 3 cups of cooked orzo. For a side dish or salad, 1/2 cup of cooked orzo is generally sufficient.

• Orzo can stick together while cooking, so be sure to stir it frequently as it cooks.

• Unlike some types of rice which, for optimal results, should be rinsed before cooking, orzo doesn’t require this extra step. Despite its small size, orzo cooks just like any other type of pasta, from elbow noodles to spaghetti!

• Leftover orzo should be stored in an airtight container in the fridge, and eaten within 3-4 days. It can be eaten cold, as in the case of pasta salad, or easily reheated in a microwave, or in a pan over low heat with a splash of water or broth. Freezing orzo can affect its texture, so is best avoided.

• Popular around the globe, orzo pairs well with a range of ingredients. It can bulk up simple vegetable or chicken soups, or be used to make fresh, zippy pasta salads brimming with crisp veggies, salami, olives and more. Used in place of rice, it makes a delicious stuffing for vegetables, and can also be used to make cheesy orzotto, a pasta-based take on risotto.

How to Serve Orzo Pasta: Authentic Orzo Recipes

Don’t just read about orzo—make some tonight! A versatile ingredient that gets along with a world of ingredients, it’s time to discover why orzo deserves a place in your pantry.

An ingredient that’s well-loved around the world and is effortless to cook, orzo is a boon to home cooks throughout the year. Stir it into soups, turn it into salads, coax it into tempting sides or pair it with proteins for satisfying complete meals. When the options are practically endless, you know you’ve stumbled on a forever kitchen find!