youtube pinterest twitter facebook instagram vimeo whatsapp Bookmark Entries BURGER NEW Chevron Down Chevron Left Chevron Right Basket Speech Comment Search Video Play Icon Premium Nigella Lawson Vegan Vegetarian Member Speech Recipe Email Bookmark Comment Camera Scales Quantity List Reorder Remove Open book
Menu
More answers

What Is Nigella's Recipe Using Orzo Pasta?

Asked by scruffyteddy. Answered on 17th May 2013

Full question

I saw Nigella do a recipe using orzo pasta, which looks like rice. I have searched everywhere and cannot find the recipe. It looked so tasty, I hope you can help.

Image of Nigella's Pasta Risotto with Peas and Pancetta
Photo by Petrina Tinslay
Pasta Risotto With Peas and Pancetta
By Nigella
  • 14
  • 2

Our answer

Orzo is a pasta shape which looks like large grains of rice. The name actually translates from the Italian word for barley, as the pieces of pasta are the shape of grains of barley. It is also sometimes called "risoni" or "semi de melone".

We suspect that the recipe you are referring to is Nigella's Pasta Risotto with Peas & Pancetta, from Nigellissima. The recipe itself is slightly unusual for a pasta recipe as the orzo is cooked in a relatively small amount of water and the pasta is not drained after cooking. Instead the orzo oozes its starchiness into the sauce around the pasta.

Orzo is also a popular pasta for salads and it is a great shape for smaller children as they find it easy to eat.

Falling into Autumn

Nigella’s Autumnal Recipes
Nigella’s Autumnal Recipes

Vegan Inspiration

Dark and Sumptuous Chocolate Cake
Nigella’s Vegan Recipes

Tell us what you think