Best 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.

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.

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.

WILD RICE AND ORZO PILAF

Steps:

• Bring water, wild rice, and salt to a boil in a saucepan. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until rice is tender, 30 to 45 minutes. Drain excess liquid, fluff rice with a fork, and cook uncovered 5 minutes more.
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook orzo in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until tender yet firm to the bite, 7 to 10 minutes. Drain.
• Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add onions; cover and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in remaining 2 tablespoons butter, peas, salt, and pepper. Cook and stir until combined, about 1 minute more.
• Pour rice and orzo into a serving dish. Stir in the pea mixture and green onions.

INSTANT POT® RICE AND ORZO PILAF WITH MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Turn on a multi-functional pressure cooker (such as Instant Pot®) and select Saute function. Add 2 tablespoons oil, rice, and orzo. Saute, stirring and scraping the bottom of the pot constantly, until orzo is brown, about 5 minutes. Pour in 1/4 cup broth and bring to a boil while scraping the browned bits of food off the bottom.
• Turn cooker off and add remaining broth, garlic, paprika, and onion powder. Close and lock the lid. Select high pressure according to manufacturer's instructions; set timer for 7 minutes. Allow 10 to 15 minutes for pressure to build.
• Meanwhile, heat remaining oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms and saute until lightly browned, about 5 minutes.
• Release pressure using the natural-release method according to manufacturer's instructions, for 5 minutes. Carefully release remaining pressure using quick-release method, about 5 minutes. Unlock and remove the lid. Fluff the rice. Add mushrooms and parsley. Taste and adjust salt as needed.

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 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.

BASMATI RICE PILAF WITH PROSCIUTTO, GARBANZO BEANS AND ORZO

Steps:

• Bring the oil to medium-high heat in a medium, heavy-bottomed pot with a tightly fitting lid. Add the prosciutto and crisp until it is lightly golden and the fat renders, about 1 minute. Add the carrots, peppers and onions and cook until softened, about 3 minutes. Stir in the orzo and rice. Toast until the grains are all evenly coated with oil, about 3 minutes.
• Pour the broth and lemon juice into the same pot. Bring to a boil. Add the garbanzos and bay leaf and stir to combine. Cover, reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer until the orzo and rice are tender. Remove from the heat once the liquid is fully absorbed, 12 to 15 minutes.
• Let the pilaf stand, covered, for 5 full minutes. Fluff with two forks, remove the bay leaf and season with salt and pepper. Stir in the scallions and serve garnished with the basil and mint leaves.

CHICKEN FLORENTINE ROLL-UPS WITH LEMON-THYME ORZO PILAF

Steps:

• For the chicken Florentine roll-ups: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Thaw the spinach in the microwave or on the stove as per the directions on the package, then place it in a strainer and squeeze out as much liquid as possible, discarding the liquid.
• Chop the sun-dried tomatoes, grate the Parmesan cheese, and chop the basil, and place them in a medium bowl with 2/3 cup of the spinach, the goat cheese, egg white, 1/8 teaspoon of the salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of the pepper. Stir with a fork until well incorporated.
• Spread 3 tablespoons of the filling on the top half of each chicken breast, roll up, and secure with 2 toothpicks. (See Cook's Note.) Sprinkle the chicken rolls with the remaining 1/8 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
• Heat the oil in a large ovenproof skillet with a cover over medium-high heat. Brown the chicken rolls until golden, 2 minutes per side. Pour the chicken broth over the rolls, cover, and transfer the skillet to the oven. Bake until the chicken is cooked through, 12 to 14 minutes.
• For the lemon-thyme orzo pilaf: Peel and chop the shallots. Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the shallots and cook, stirring, until softened, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the orzo and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. Add the broth, bring to a boil over high heat, then decrease the heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the orzo is tender and most of the liquid is absorbed, 8 to 9 minutes.
• Meanwhile, halve the tomatoes, grate the cheese, chop the thyme, and zest and juice the lemon (1 teaspoon zest and 1 1/2 tablespoons juice). When the orzo is done, stir in the tomatoes, thyme, lemon zest and juice, cheese, salt, and pepper. Cover and let sit off the heat for 5 minutes before serving.
• To serve, drizzle the roll-ups with the liquid from the skillet and serve with the orzo.

DEVILED DUNGENESS CRAB WITH WILD RICE AND ORZO PILAF

Steps:

• For the sauce:
• Place clarified butter in a saucepan and add shallots and celery. Cook until soft. Add flour and cook until mixture reaches an amber color. Add hot milk and mix with a wire whisk to a smooth sauce. Add remaining ingredients to the sauce and cook for 10 minutes.
• For the Rice and Orzo:
• Combine rice and orzo. Add olive oil and lemon pepper. Mix well and put into the bottom of the crab shells.
• Preheat the broiler.
• For the crab:
• Saute crab meat in butter. Add Sherry until heated. Add the sauce to the crabmeat and mix well. Place the mixture on top of the rice and top with bread crumbs, butter, and Parmesan. Place under the broiler until golden brown.
• Serve with the sauce.
• For the wild rice:
• Wash the rice in cold water and strain. Lightly saute shallots in olive oil until transparent. Add wild rice and chicken stock. Bring to a boil and then turn down to a slow simmer and cover. Cook for 1 hour and 15 minutes until moisture is totally evaporated. Cool down in refrigerator.
• Bring salted water to a rolling boil. Add orzo and cook for 8 minutes. Strain orzo and cool down in ice water. When cool, strain and place in refrigerator.

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.

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.

ORZO AND RICE PILAF WITH GARLIC AND HERBS

Steps:

• 1. In a large nonstick skillet heat oil over medium-high. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute, being careful not to burn.
• 2. Add orzo and rice; cook 4-6 minutes longer or until lightly browned.
• 3. Stir in broth and water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes, until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed. (Add more water as needed if rice and pasta are not done before liquid is absorbed).
• 4. Stir in the onions, basil, parsley and salt.
• 5. Serve. Sprinkle some grated Parmesan on top if desired.

BONNIE'S ORZO AND RICE PILAF

Steps:

• 1. EQUIPMENT You will need a deep 12 inch skillet preferably with a glass lid that fits tightly.
• 2. PREPARE THE VEGETABLES Chop the onions, carrots, celery and garlic, parsley and zucchini if desired.
• 3. SAUTE THE VEGETABLES Heat the oil and butter in the skillet over medium heat, then saute the orzo, stirring it constantly until it is golden brown about one minute. Add the prepared vegetables (except the parsley and zucchini) and add the salt and pepper. Stir until the onion is lightly browned, then add the rice, saute and stir until coated with oil and butter.
• 4. COOK THE RICE Add the broth and the water and bring to a boil, lower the heat to low and cook covered, until liquid is absorbed, about 15 to 20 minutes. Avoid removing the lid and letting the steam escape. Remove from heat and quickly stir in the zucchini, and let it stand 5 minutes. Zucchini will steam. Then stir in the parsley and serve sprinkled with toasted almonds. Enjoy!

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.

MUSHROOM ORZO PILAF

Steps:

• melt 3 tbsp butter in large skillet, add shallots, garlic, 3 tsp thyme, and saute add mushrooms, saute 8 minutes until softened.
• add remaining butter, orzo, broth, nutmeg, salt and pepper to taste, heat to boil lower to simmer, cover and cook 15 minutes until liquid is absorbed.
• stir in remaining thyme.

ORZO AND BROWN RICE PILAF

Steps:

• Heat oil in a heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Add carrots, onions, red pepper and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Saute, stirring occasionally until vegetables have softened, about 8 minutes. Lower heat, if necessary, to prevent onions from browning.
• Add chicken broth and increase heat until boiling. Add lentils and cook 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add orzo and pepper to taste. Add another 1/4 teaspoon salt if necessary.
• Stir in brown rice, reduce heat to medium low and cook, covered, 10 more minutes until all the liquid is absorbed and rice is tender.
• Fluff with fork and serve.

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.