Risotto without rice? It does not sound like a plausible dish. Believe it or not, there is one alternative ingredient that works perfectly in risotto, and it is pasta.

It is not other than orzo. This tiny pasta, also known as patina, is a versatile food that can be used as the main ingredient in risotto.

Orzo: Another Italian staple

Some people think orzo is rice, mainly for its shape of a grain of rice. However, orzo is a type of pasta made of wheat semolina flour.

In Italy, orzo is frequently added to soups, cold salads, and stews or served with sauces like regular pasta.

Minestra maritata (wedding soup), pastina in brodo (orzo with broth), and Tuscan minestrone (minestrone) are some of the traditional Italian dishes made with orzo.

To learn more about this Italian staple, check the following link riceselect.com/product/orzo and discover quite an interesting and useful information.

Traditional risotto with rice

Traditional risotto is a creamy preparation made with starchy rice such as Arborio, and shallot, cooked in broth and white wine and topped with Parmesan cheese and butter.

Other typical Italian risottos are:

• Risotto alla Milanese flavored with saffron.
• Risotto ai Funghi with mushrooms.
• Risotto all’aglio with garlic.

Preparing risotto demands a lot of time and attention. Its creaminess results from slowly cooking rice until it releases all its starch to form a thick sauce. It is a complicated process, but it needs to do it correctly to get a successful dish.

Risotto with orzo

Orzo is a versatile ingredient since it pairs well with anything. It is easy and fast to cook.

Its similarity with rice makes it possible to use it in various recipes made traditionally with rice, including risotto. Besides, its blank taste can absorb the flavors of other ingredients.

Using orzo as an alternative ingredient in risotto has some benefits. You can make orzo risotto in less time and effortlessly since you do not have to babysit the dish during the preparation process.

The distinctive creaminess of the dish is given by the heavy cream and butter used in the recipe.

Making risotto with orzo

Once you cook risotto made with orzo, you will not believe it tastes almost the same, with a similar texture to the traditional preparation made with rice.

Make this simple recipe, and then customize it with your favorite ingredients.

Orzo Risotto

Ingredients (4 servings):

• 3 cups of chicken broth.
• 4 tablespoons of olive oil.
• 1 chopped shallot.
• 3 minced garlic cloves.
• 1 cup of orzo.
• ¾ cup of dry white wine.
• 1 teaspoon of sea salt.
• 2 tablespoons of salted butter.
• ½ cup of heavy cream.
• 1 cup of grated manchego cheese.
• 1 teaspoon of black pepper.

Preparation:

1. In a saucepan, pour chicken broth at heat at low temperature. Keep it warm.
2. In another saucepan, add 3 tablespoons of the oil at heat at medium temperature.
3. Incorporate shallots and garlic. Cook for 3 minutes.
4. Add orzo, stir, and continue cooking for 4 more minutes. Orzo must be golden.
5. Pour dry white wine, mix, and cook until it evaporates completely.
6. Add the warmed chicken broth and sea salt. Stir very well.
7. Increase heat and cook until it starts to boil.
8. Decrease heat and simmer.
9. Cook for 12 minutes and turn off the heat.
10. Add immediately salted butter, heavy cream, manchego cheese, and black pepper. Combine all ingredients.
11. Pour 1 tablespoon of olive oil before serving.

Tips for making the best orzo risotto

• Keep the broth warm during the cooking process. Unlike the risotto cooking method, you can add all the broth at once, not in little batches.
• Sauté orzo until it gets brown or golden.
• Add butter and heavy cream at the end. They will provide the distinctive creaminess of the risotto.