Best Artichoke 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.

BAKED ORZO WITH ARTICHOKES AND PEAS

Steps:

• Make the béchamel and set aside.
• Prepare the artichokes. Fill a bowl with water and add the lemon juice. Cut away the stem and the top third of each artichoke, break off the leaves and trim them down to the bottoms, placing them in the water as you go along. Quarter them and slice large quarters about 1/4 inch thick. Save the leaves and steam them; serve them as a first course or a side dish.
• Drain the artichoke hearts and dry on a clean dish towel. Heat the oil over medium-high heat in a large, heavy skillet. Add the sliced artichoke hearts and cook, stirring, until lightly browned and tender, about 10 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Turn down the heat and add the garlic. Cook just until fragrant, about 30 seconds, and remove from the heat.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Oil a 2-quart baking dish. Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil and add the orzo. Cook 5 minutes, add the peas and continue to boil for another 4 minutes, until the orzo is just tender but still firm to the bite. Drain and transfer to a large bowl. Add the artichokes, herbs, béchamel and Parmesan and stir together until the sauce coats all of the other ingredients. Transfer to the prepared baking dish.
• Place in the oven and bake 30 minutes, until lightly colored on top.

ORZO WITH ARTICHOKES AND PINE NUTS

Steps:

• Cook orzo in a 4- to 5-quart pot of boiling salted water until al dente. Drain in a colander.
• While orzo cooks, lightly toast pine nuts in a dry small skillet over moderate heat, stirring, until pale golden, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and cool 1 minute, then coarsely chop.
• Drain artichoke hearts in a large sieve and rinse well. Pull off leaves from bases of hearts and quarter bases. Rinse leaves and bases well, then drain thoroughly.
• Stir together oil, vinegar, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Add orzo, pine nuts, artichokes (leaves and bases), parsley, and zest and toss to combine.

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 WITH CHICKEN AND ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Stir in pancetta, and cook until browned. Remove to paper towels.
• Pour 2 tablespoons olive oil into skillet. Stir in onion, garlic, and red pepper flakes. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is soft and translucent. Increase heat to medium high, pour in white wine; cook about 3 minutes.
• Reduce heat to low, stir in chicken, artichoke hearts, and spinach. Cover, and cook to warm through.
• Meanwhile, bring a pot of salted water to boil. Add orzo pasta and cook until al dente, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain, and stir into chicken mixture.
• Stir pine nuts and balsamic vinegar into pasta.

ORZO WITH ASPARAGUS, ARTICHOKE, TOMATO AND TRUFFLE OIL

Steps:

• Cook the orzo in boiling salted water until al dente. Rinse in cool water and toss in olive oil. Set aside.
• In a small sauce pan, cook balsamic vinegar and sugar and reduce it to a syrup consistency. Set aside. Cut the asparagus tips from the stems. Blanch the tips on boiling salted water. Set aside. Coarsely chop the asparagus stems in a food processor. Set aside. Put the artichokes on a hot grill and cook until brown. Saute butter, garlic, and asparagus in a large pan for 2 minutes. Add wine, vegetable stock, and orzo.
• Cook until the pasta is hot and the liquid has been absorbed. Saute asparagus tips with butter and salt until hot Toss pasta with tomatoes and Parmesan, arrange asparagus on top of each pasta portion. Season with salt and pepper. Spoon pasta into 6 portions. Drizzle plates with balsamic and truffle oils. Place grilled artichoke next to each portion.

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.

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.