Discover the Wonders of Orzo: Cooking Tips and Techniques Revealed

Orzo is a type of pasta shaped like rice that you can cook similarly to how you prepare rice. You can boil it and let it absorb the liquid, cook it into a risotto, or make pilaf with it. Since it’s pasta, you can also cook it the traditional way and drain the excess liquid when done.

You can serve orzo hot or cold, as a side dish, or incorporate it into stews, soups, and salads. Typically, orzo comes in a pale yellow color, but you can also find a tricolor version. Remember, orzo is made from wheat, so it isn’t suitable for those following a gluten-free diet.

## Cooking Methods for Orzo

Orzo is small and easy to cook, with a few different methods you could use:

### Pasta Method
This is the standard approach for cooking all kinds of pasta. Boil the orzo, drain the water, and then add some oil or olive oil before serving.

### Rice Method
In this method, you cook orzo like rice. Combine it with cold water in a saucepan, bring it to a boil, then reduce the heat, cover, and simmer until the liquid is absorbed. You can use this method for other types of pasta, especially those with long shapes like spaghetti.

### Risotto Method
To cook orzo risotto-style, sauté it with some butter, onions, and other aromatics. Then, gradually add hot water while stirring constantly until all the liquid is absorbed. This method makes the orzo creamy due to the starch released during cooking.

### Pilaf Method
The pilaf method combines elements from both the rice and risotto methods. First, sauté the orzo with a bit of olive oil and chopped onion. Then, add hot water, cover with a tight-fitting lid, and let it cook in the oven for about 20 minutes until all the liquid is absorbed. A popular Turkish pilaf combines rice and orzo using this technique.

### Orzo in Salads
Orzo works great in salads, similar to how you would use rice or other types of pasta. Try swapping it into your favorite pasta salad recipe—you might be pleasantly surprised by the results.