Orzo Pilaf Recipes

HERBED ORZO PILAF

Steps:

• Saute 1 chopped onion and 1 thyme sprig in butter over medium heat until golden; season with salt. Increase the heat to medium high; add 1 cup orzo and toast 2 minutes. Add 2 cups chicken broth and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to medium low, cover and cook until the orzo is tender, 15 minutes. Stir in some chopped dill. Top with sour cream and paprika.

SARAH'S RICE PILAF

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a lidded skillet over medium-low heat. Cook and stir orzo pasta until golden brown. Stir in onion and cook until onion becomes translucent, then add garlic and cook for 1 minute. Mix in the rice and chicken broth. Increase heat to high and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the rice is tender, and the liquid has been absorbed, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand for 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork.

GARLIC-HERB ORZO PILAF

Steps:

• In a large nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray, cook garlic in oil over medium-high heat for 1 minute. Add orzo and rice; cook 4-6 minutes longer or until lightly browned. , Stir in broth and water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes or until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed. Stir in the onions, basil, parsley and salt.

ORZO PILAF WITH MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, saute mushrooms and onion in oil until tender. Add garlic; cook and stir 1 minute longer. Add the broth, orzo, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 10-14 minutes or until pasta is tender. Stir in parsley.

TANGY CHICKEN WITH ORZO PILAF

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a large Dutch oven or heavy pot, heat 1 tablespoon oil over high. Season chicken on both sides with salt and pepper. In batches, add chicken, skin side down, and cook until skin is golden and crisp, about 7 minutes. Flip chicken and cook 3 minutes more. Transfer chicken to a plate.
• Pour off all but 1 tablespoon fat from pot and reduce heat to medium-high. Add onion and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add tomatoes and season with salt and pepper; cook until beginning to break down, about 3 minutes. Stir in vinegar and return chicken, skin side up, to pot; bring liquid to a boil. Transfer pot, uncovered, to oven and bake until chicken is cooked through, about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, heat 1 teaspoon oil over medium-high. Add carrots and cook until slightly softened, about 3 minutes. Add orzo, tossing to coat. Add 1 3/4 cups water and bring to a boil; reduce heat to low and cover. Cook until water is absorbed and orzo is tender, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat; fluff pilaf with a fork.
• Reserve chicken breasts and half the pan sauce and refrigerate for later use. Serve chicken leg quarters with pilaf and remaining pan sauce.

ORZO PILAF

Steps:

• Brown orzo and onion in margarine over med-hi heat.
• Add rice, broth and a dash of pepper and salt.
• Bring back to a full boil, then cover, lower heat, and simmer for 20 minutes.

ARTICHOKE ORZO PILAF

Steps:

• In a large nonstick skillet, saute leek and orzo in oil for 3 minutes or until leek is tender. Add the broth, water and Italian seasoning; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 15 minutes or until liquid is absorbed. Stir in artichoke hearts and Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately.

ORZO PILAF WITH GREEN ONIONS AND PARMESAN CHEESE

Steps:

• Bring 3 1/4 cups broth to boil in heavy large saucepan over medium-high heat. Mix in orzo and simmer uncovered until just tender but still firm to bite and some broth still remains, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes. Remove from heat. Add green onions and cheese and stir to blend. Season pilaf to taste with salt and pepper. Rewarm over low heat, if necessary, and mix in more broth by 1/4 cupfuls if pilaf is dry. Transfer pilaf to large bowl and serve.

TOASTED ORZO PILAF

Steps:

• Melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in medium saucepan.
• Add orzo and stir until pasta is toasted, about 3-5 minutes.
• Add broth, bring to a boil and cook pasta until done; drain.
• Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter in a sauté pan.
• Add scallions and mushrooms and cook until crisp-tender.
• Add pine nuts, salt and pepper to taste.
• Stir in the cooked orzo and fresh parsley, and heat through.

GREEK-STYLE LEMONY RICE AND ORZO PILAF WITH FETA

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan melt butter over medium heat; add in onion, garlic and thyme, stir for about 3 minutes.
• Add in the rice and orzo; cook stirring for 3 minutes.
• Add in the broth and lemon juice; bring to a boil over medium heat.
• Add in black pepper, reduce the heat to low and simmer covered for about 20-22 minutes or until the liquid has absorbed.
• Transfer to a serving dish then sprinkle the feta on top (if using).
• Delicious!

ORZO AND RICE PILAF WITH VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Heat oil and butter in a deep 12-inch heavy skillet over moderately high heat until foam subsides, then sauté orzo, stirring constantly, until golden brown, about 1 minute. Add onion, carrots, celery, garlic, salt, and pepper and sauté, stirring occasionally, until onion is lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Add rice and sauté, stirring, until coated with oil and butter.
• Add broth and water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and cook, covered, until liquid is absorbed, 13 to 15 minutes. Remove from heat and quickly stir in zucchini, then let stand, covered, 5 minutes. (Zucchini will steam.) Stir in parsley and serve sprinkled with almonds.

LEMON DILL ORZO PILAF

Steps:

• In a large pot, bring the water, chicken bouillon and 1 Tbs olive oil to a boil.
• Add the orzo and cook for 8-10 minutes until tender.
• Drain the orzo and rinse with plenty of cool water.
• Shake of excess water and reserve orzo at room temperature.
• In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat and add the other 1 Tbs olive oil.
• Toss in the orzo, dill, lemon zest and salt and pepper to taste.
• Mix to combine and add the lemon juice.
• Toss to mix well and serve immediately.

ROSEMARY LEMON ORZO PILAF

Steps:

• In a 1-quart heavy saucepan sauté orzo in butter over moderately high heat, stirring, until browned lightly and stir in remaining ingredients. Bring liquid to a boil and cover. Reduce heat to low and cook 15 minutes, or until liquid is absorbed. Remove pan from heat and let stand, covered, 5 minutes.

GARLIC ORZO PILAF

Steps:

• In a large skillet, saute garlic and pepper flakes in oil for 1 minute. Add orzo; saute for 3-5 minutes or until golden brown., Stir in chicken stock and bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes or until pasta is tender. Sprinkle with cheese if desired.

MEDITERRANEAN ORZO VEGETABLE PILAF

Steps:

• In a 10 inches skillet over medium-high heat, heat the olive oil, then stir in the uncooked orzo, and green onion.
• Cook, stirring frequently, until the orzo is lightly browned, about 3 minutes.
• Stir in the broth and wine and heat until boiling, then reduce heat, cover and simmer about 6 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Stir in the peppers, chickpeas, olives and capers, and cook covered another 6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until most liquid is absorbed.
• Pour into a bowl and sprinkle with the 2 T of parmesan cheese.