Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Parmesan Orzo



This is my all time favorite side dish. I love it so much that I often end up skipping out on the main dish and mostly eating this. I think it might be one of my favorite things that I make! This is a recipe that I have adapted from a Cooking Light recipe for "Creamy Parmesan Orzo." I really can't say enough about this... just make it.

BUT, what I will say is that this works best with freshly shaved parmesan cheese. I wouldn't use grated cheese (you know... the white powdery stuff), I don't really think it would achieve the right consistency. You need fresh cheese so that it melts...yummmm. I buy the Kraft Grate it Fresh. It is sold in the refrigerated case with other cheeses. It is a green rectangular plastic case with a block of parmesan cheese inside it. On the bottom is a grater, so you just have to twist the cap and you get freshly grated cheese. It's one of my favorite products and I would never go back to the white, powdery, grated cheese again.

Ingredients:
1 TBSP light butter (or real)
1 cup orzo
1 can of chicken broth (I use the garlic flavored chicken broth... it makes this dish so yummy)
A few shakes of parsley
A few shakes of garlic powder
1/2 cup of freshly shredded parmesan cheese (I NEVER measure this... I have no idea how much I use, I just put some in and stir. Once it is creamy I consider it to be enough)

Directions:
1- Heat butter and dry orzo over medium/high heat until pasta is toasted and golden (not all of the pasta, just some)
2- Pour in the can of broth and seasonings. Cook on medium heat. The orzo will absorb the broth. Once most of the broth is absorbed, remove from the heat.
3- Mix in the parmesan cheese and stir until smooth and creamy.
4- Sprinkle with additional cheese when serving if you like.

6 comments:

  1. This complemented the shrimp dish very well. Desert tonight is my job, with some cupcakes from crumbs.

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  2. Oh my. This looks really, really yummy! I'll have to keep this idea tucked inside my hat to pull out some evening...

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  3. Just got done making this - so delicious! Definitely a favorite of mine now! Thanks for posting!
    -A Fellow Nestie :)

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  4. I made this last night but used whole wheat orzo and it was kind of weird! Not your recipe but just the whole wheat-ness of the orzo was really over powering, do you ever use it?

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  5. Kaylee- I don't use whole wheat orzo! I just use the regular kind. I honestly am not huge on whole wheat pasta but I do use it for certain things, typically only if it has a powerful sauce paired with it.

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  6. I LOVE this recipe, it has become my go to side! and to think, I had never had orzo before I tried this.. I never knew what I was missing! I love your blog by the way!

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