Category: orzo rice

Orzo rice is a combination of rice-shaped pasta with rice. A perfect addition as a simple side dish or as an addition to main courses such as chicken ala king or chicken fricassee. Because I love French cuisine and butter has a big impact on dishes, orzo rice has a buttery taste but is also loose like traditional pilaf. The dish is made a bit in the pilaf style but also has Italian risotto wool. It is not bland because white wine adds flavor and character to the dish. It’s so yummy that it quickly disappears from the table, and the children fight over it. It is one of my favorite recipes at home. 

You can also make this perfect side dish in a whole grain version by adding brown rice and whole wheat orzo. This version of this dish will be even healthier.

What is Orzo?

Orzo is a small pasta made from durum wheat semolina. It looks like rice but is not rice. You can add it to pasta salads and soups as an addition to dishes or simply make this Mediterranean pilaf risotto from my recipe.

How to choose the best ingredients for Orzo Rice

Orzo: You can buy orzo at your local grocery store called orzo pasta or orzo. This is rice-shaped pasta, but when cooked, it is a bit larger and thicker than rice. 

White rice: Any rice with a long grain will be good. Of course, Basmatti rice is best for this dish because the aroma is a mixture of butter and wine, two ingredients that dominate this dish. Another option is jasmine rice, which cooks similarly to basmati rice. You can also try brown rice, but it takes longer to cook, so keep that in mind.

Chicken Broth: You can also use chicken stock, although traditional chicken broth has a much fuller aroma and taste. If you don’t eat meat, you can use vegetable stock or broth. It’s best to make it at home; you can use my recipe for perfect vegetable broth. 

Butter is essential in this recipe and gives the orzo rice dish a delicious flavor. I recommend unsalted butter because we add salted chicken broth to the recipe unless you use chicken stock, which is usually unsalted. If you want a vegetarian version, olive oil will be a good choice.

White wine, any good dry white wine, will be good. I like pinot grigio but it can be chardonnay sauvignon blanc. 

White onion will be perfect; I don’t recommend red onion because it will disturb the color of the dish.

Turmeric/ Shafran is one option to give orzo rice a more yellow color. Neither saffron nor turmeric disturbs the taste, not in such small amounts.

Fresh Parsley adds freshness and a delicate piquancy to the dish. I like parsley for its flavor and nutritional value, so I often add it to my dishes.

Tips and Tricks for Orzo Rice

These are just my suggestions for adding something to this quick dish. You may have other ideas. I’m waiting for your comments on how you improved this dish.

• You can add parmesan cheese to orzo rice and more butter, about 3 tablespoons, to make it more like a risotto than a pilaf.
• You can add lemon zest with lemon juice at the end of cooking to give it more flavor and aroma. This type of orzo rice will be perfect for fish dishes.
• You can add fresh herbs to orzo rice. For example, tarragon would be perfect for the lemon version, and thyme and tarragon would be ideal for chicken.
• You can add feta cheese and green onions for a better taste. Whatever your imagination tells you. 

Orzo Rice Recipe Step-by-Step Guide

This is a basic orzo rice recipe, but adding different herbs and spices gives this dish a different dimension. Read more at Tips and Tricks. 

I will guide you through this quick recipe so you can enjoy this delicious dish.

Step 1: Measure and prepare all the ingredients, and chop the onion into small cubes.

Step 2: Melt one tablespoon of butter in a deep pot or pan—in my case, a pan like a wok.

Step 3: Melt the tablespoon of butter and caramelize the chopped onion until it is soft and turns golden brown. This will take about 3-5 minutes.

Step 4: Once the onion is ready, add another tablespoon of butter and orzo. Toast the orzo until it turns medium brown. This will give the dish a slightly nutty flavor, and the pasta will be al dente.

Step 5: When the orzo is ready, add the rice and pour in the wine so that the rice and orzo taste slightly sour.

Step 6: Add the chicken broth and cook until the orzo and rice absorb all the spit. Simmer on low heat, covered, for about 15 minutes.

Step 7: Add salt and fresh parsley to taste.

Step 8: Then remove from heat and let the orzo rice rest for 10-15 minutes so that the rice and orzo absorb all remaining liquid. This will give the dish a loose consistency, prevent it from sticky rice, and give it a perfect texture. 

You can eat it alone or serve it with any type of stew.

Enjoy!

Sides To Serve Orzo Rice

I love the dish because it is excellent as a snack, but it also impacts chicken stews like Chicken Fricassee, where the creamy sauce with vegetables is submerged in rice and orzo. It worked perfectly with this famous stew Chicken ala King. It is simply one of the ingredients of my family dinners.
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How to store Orzo Rice

Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days so the dish does not dry. 

To reheat orzo rice, you can use an air fryer, an instant pot, or a regular pot, but then add a little water to the bottom so the dish doesn’t burn. I definitely advise against the oven because this dish can dry out.

FAQ

Is orzo gluten-free?

Traditional Orzo is made from semolina wheat, so it contains gluten, but the popularity of this paste is growing so much that you can now find gluten-free versions on the market in some grocery stores.

Can I freeze Orzo Rice?

Yes, you can freeze orzo rice once it has cooled completely and is stored in a freezer-safe container for up to 2 months.

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