Pasta Encyclopedia: Orzo
Orzo is a familiar shape that goes by many names – risoni (or “big rice” in Italian) and puntalette (“tiny tips”) are just two of its other aliases. Orzo literally means “barley” in Italian, as the pasta shape resembles a grain of barley or rice. It’s often used in soups or salads, or even cooked risotto-style as a faster- cooking stand-in for its rice cousins. We love these “orzottos” for quick preparation and durability – the small, dense shape holds up well over time.
Here is a collection of some of our favorite orzo recipes, from a Mediterranean "risotto style" dish, to a brunch inspired bacon and eggs dish, and even a take on carbonara pasta salad with orzo as the grain. Buon appetito!
- • Artichoke & Roasted Tomato Orzo, "Risotto style"
- • Bacon and Eggs Orzo "Risotto"
- • “Carbonara” Orzo Pasta Salad with Spring Vegetables and Portobello Lardons
