Orzo is a pasta only shaped like rice.
It can be tempting, surethey’re the same shape.
They look so similar.
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They’re both grain-based.
Rice and orzo share characteristics, but the two foods are not identical.
What Is Orzo?
These are easy mix-ups because the two do look alike but they are not the same.
Orzo is traditionally made from semolina flour, though it can be made from whole-grain flour.
Can You Substitute Orzo For Rice?
Orzo and rice are not exact substitutions.
You’ll also find that thecooking timesand temperatures for each vary widely.
Orzo has a firmer bite and creamier and softer texture than rice.
Much like rice, it can double in size when cooked.
Rice can be cooked to be sticky, while orzo will just clump without enough moisture.
Good thing we have a few tips on how to cook orzo in a rice dish.
For instance, orzo can be used to add texture to any soup or as a base forsauteed shrimp.
As a small pasta, orzo cooks quickly, typically in eight to 10 minutes.
This is a much shorter cooking time than the 1520 minutes generally required for white rice.
Brown rice takes even longer to cook, up to 45 minutes.
So it’s very important to adjust your cooking time if you are substituting orzo for rice.
Many recipes will recommend cooking orzo toal dente, which means still firm when bitten.
Overcooked pasta will get mushy and can ruin the texture of your dish.
Add the orzo and boil it for the amount of time recommended on the package.
Then drain the pasta in a colander right away.
Otherwise, your orzo could turn into a giant clump.
Not every recipe requires pre-boiling your orzo.
Some recipes like soups will have you cook the orzo directly in the broth or sauce.
In that case, it’s best to add the orzo in the last 10 minutes.
Keep this guidance in mind, and orzo can make the perfect addition to almost any dish.
