Food Cooking Tips & Techniques How to Cook Orzo Perfectly Every Time, Plus Recipes to Try Here's all you need to know about this versatile, rice-shaped pasta, plus six scrumptious recipes to try. By Phoebe Fry Updated on August 23, 2023 Close Photo: Nata Vkusidey/Getty Images At first glance, you might think orzo is a variety of rice, but it's actually one of many types of pasta typically made with semolina flour. Shaped like a grain of rice or barley—orzo is Italian for "barley"—it's a versatile ingredient that's worth keeping stocked in your pantry. Orzo is perfect for adding heft to soups, throwing together a quick pasta salad to serve alongside meat or fish, or riffing on risotto for an easy weeknight meal. Read on to learn how to cook orzo, and then choose from among our recipes to put your new skill to use. P.S. Keep in mind that while it resembles rice, orzo is not gluten-free. What You'll Need Equipment / Tools Large pot Measuring cup Colander Materials Orzo Salt Instructions How to Cook Orzo If you know how to cook pasta, you can cook orzo. Like any other pasta shape, orzo is a quick-cooking grain that helps you get dinner on the table in no time. Follow our steps for cooking orzo to complete a meal in minutes. Boil Water In a large pot, bring 2 quarts of water with 1 tablespoon salt to a boil. As a rule of thumb, you need 4 quarts boiling water and 2 tablespoons salt for each pound of pasta. Add Orzo Add 1 cup dried orzo (about 6 ounces) to boiling water. This yields 2 cups cooked: 4 servings of ½ cup each. Boil Orzo Boil for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until orzo achieves your preferred texture. Drain and Serve Drain cooked orzo in a colander, and then add it to soups, pasta salads, and more. Orzo Recipes Now that you know how to cook orzo, use it in one of our easy recipes. Orzo Tomato Salad Jennifer Causey Dressed with Parmesan, cherry tomatoes, and a punchy vinaigrette, this orzo salad is worthy of center stage at your next picnic or barbecue. Pricey pine nuts are optional but delightful, especially when toasted until fragrant. Get the Recipe Lemony Fish with Orzotto Antonis Achilleos This is one of our favorite easy Easter dinner ideas. It features fish fillets seared in a pan and then served on a bed of orzotto—a risotto made with orzo instead of rice—for a light, comforting dinner. Scallions, peas, and lemon zest add brightness. Get the Recipe Orzo-Cucumber Salad Raymond Hom Best eaten chilled or at room temperature, this refreshing orzo salad makes for a fantastic summer meal. Cucumbers and herbs are folded into cooked pasta, along with feta for a salty, creamy element. Get the Recipe Orzo With Shrimp and Olives Fred Hardy This Greek-inspired warm salad is as at home as a weeknight meal as it is a company's-coming dinner recipe. Orzo shares top billing with shrimp, and the dish is topped with a creamy yogurt-and-cucumber-based tzatziki sauce. Get the Recipe Mushroom and Burrata Orzotto Greg DuPree This orzotto makes an elegant side or impressive vegetarian main. A finishing touch of torn burrata—a soft Italian cheese similar to fresh mozzarella—makes this luscious dish super creamy. Get the Recipe Kale and White Bean Soup Hans Gissinger White beans and orzo make this healthy soup a complete meal. Serve with crusty bread to soak up all the brothy goodness. Get the Recipe Squash, Mushroom, and Kale Soup With Dill Christopher Testani This vegetarian-friendly soup is packed with hearty, colorful vegetables. Add the orzo directly to the broth to cook it through and complete the dish. Get the Recipe Chicken Piccata With Mushrooms and Brussels Sprouts Greg DuPree With tender orzo, a luscious, buttery sauce, and plenty of vegetables, this chicken dish is nourishing and perfect for a chilly night. It features sautéed chicken cutlets, but it's the capers that really makes this dish pop. Get the Recipe Spiced Lamb Meatball and Swiss Chard Stew Roland Bello This hearty stew recipe specifies orzo but, truth be told, any small pasta would do. The meatballs finish cooking by braising in a chicken-y broth with the orzo, all in one pot, Get the Recipe 37 Perfect Pasta Recipes You'll Want to Make for Dinner Tonight (and Every Night)