Cooking With Orzo

Orzo another grain option for breakfast you didn't know you needed....

Now if you have been following along on my blog then you know I am all about finding food alternatives/options. Rice is a wonderful grain, but sometimes I like to spice it up. One of my favorite alternatives is Couscous. This particular grain cooks faster than rice and can be paired with savory or sweet dishes.

I came across Orzo last week in the grocery store. I was very curious. It has the same properties as rice, yet it is underused and no one, not even the stocker knew what it was used for. I purchased it anyway and did some research. I found out that Orzo, contrary to popular belief, is an Italian grain, the name itself translates to Barley. It is also known as Risoni. It can be classified as a pasta.

Orzo can be served alone, with soup, or as a breakfast dish.

Kids especially love this grain.

Once I was done doing my research I decided to cook a few dishes to test it out, and WOW! My family was pleasantly surprised with the flavor. Now Orzo is in the rotation.

Here is the recipe(s) I used. There are two one is for breakfast and the othe can be used as a light lunch or dinner. Enjoy! Happy Eating

Orzo & Spinach Hash

Ingredients

• 2 Tablespoon Butter

• 4 cups of Precooked Toasted Orzo

• 6 cups Baby Spinach

• 1/4 teaspoon Sea Salt

• 1/4 teaspoon Ground Pepper

Cooking Instructions

1. Heat 1 Tablespoon Butter in a large skillet over medium-high-heat

2. Add Precooked toasted Orzo and Spinach

3. Add salt and pepper

4. Cook until Orxo is reheated and spinach leaves are wilted (4-5 minutes)

5. Remove from Skillet: Keep warm

6. Add 1 Tablespoon of butter to same skillet over medium heat

7. Fry 4 large eggs in skillet to your liking.

8. Serve eggs onto of Orzo and Spinach

Serves 4

Orzo Salad

Ingredients

• 1 lb. Orzo, cooked

• 1/2 red onion, chopped

• 1 can kalamata olives

• 1 bunch of spinach, chopped

• 1 cup cherry tomatoes

• 1 carrots, chopped

• 1 pkg of Feta, crumbled

Dressing

• 1/4 Cup virgin olive oil

• 1/4 Cup balsamic vinegar

• 2 teaspoon dried oregano

• 1/4 teaspoon Salt

• 1/4 teaspoon pepper

• 1 garlic clove, mashed

• 1 Tablespoon Parmesan Cheese, grated

Cooking With Orzo Cooking instructions

Combine cooked orzo, onions, olives, spinach, tomatoes, carrots, and crumbled feta in a large salad bowl.

Make the dressing.

Pour over combined ingredients; toss and refrigerate.

Serve