This mushroom orzo pilaf is a creamy, scrumptious spin on traditional rice pilaf with orzo pasta as a substitute! It’s a simple gentle meal or aspect dish filled with earthy mushrooms, tender veggies, and contemporary herbs.
If you happen to’re a fan of recipes like mushroom rice, you’ll love this one-pot pasta recipe loaded with comparable elements and flavors! Strive my creamy rooster orzo for one more straightforward dinner concept.
My mother is the longstanding queen 
of rice pilaf (a.ok.a. pilav or pilau). It’s a dish that includes simmering rice in broth with veggies and spices till it’s tender, fluffy, and choc stuffed with taste. This model packs all that deliciousness right into a heat, creamy, savory pilaf with orzo pasta as a substitute! I used entire wheat orzo and mushrooms and channeled all of the richness and creaminess of my mother’s pilaf recipes right into a tasty, one-pot meal. I may LIVE off these things.
Why I Love This Mushroom Orzo Pilaf
- Full of taste. I LOVE mushrooms, so naturally, I like this mushroom orzo. It’s wealthy, flavorful, and loaded with greens and herbs, cooked in a savory broth. The earthy mushrooms spherical out the flavors completely.
- Little or no hands-on time. This “rice” pilaf with orzo falls between a creamy one-pot pasta and mushroom risotto. The distinction right here is that there’s no hovering over a pot on the range, regularly stirring in inventory as typical risotto recipes name for.
- One pot. As a result of I’m all about sensible shortcuts, all you might want to make this recipe is one pan and fewer than half-hour. It’s the weeknight dinner you want in your life!
Is Orzo a Pasta or Rice?
Orzo, additionally known as risoni, is definitely a short-cut pasta that’s formed like rice. That is why it makes such an ideal stand-in for rice in recipes for pilaf and casseroles! You’ll discover semolina, entire wheat, and even gluten-free orzo in grocery shops, and so they’re all members of the pasta household. Any variety will work on this recipe.
Elements You’ll Want
Just like cooking rice for risotto, the starches within the orzo pasta give this mushroom orzo pilaf a wealthy, silky texture. I’ve included notes on the elements you’ll want right here. Scroll all the way down to the recipe card for the printable record with the complete recipe particulars.
- Olive Oil – Or one other cooking oil, like avocado oil.
- Yellow Onion – Diced. You should utilize any white or yellow, delicate onion you’d like.
- Mushrooms – These could be cremini, Child Bella, portobello mushrooms, or any mixture of white and brown mushrooms you favor. You’ll be able to even make this recipe with unique mushrooms, like shiitake or oyster mushrooms.
- Carrot – Chopped up into skinny rounds, or you should buy a bag of frozen diced carrots and thaw them out beforehand.
- Herbs – I take advantage of a mix of freshly minced garlic, chopped rosemary leaves, and parsley. Thyme is one other herb that works properly with mushrooms. You’ll additionally want salt and pepper for seasoning.
- Orzo – You’ll discover orzo within the pasta aisle. I take advantage of entire wheat orzo, however any variety works. If you happen to can’t discover orzo, you may also make this pilaf with one other small pasta form, like ditalini or pearl couscous.
- Vegetable Broth – Or rooster inventory. I like to recommend low-sodium broth or inventory because it’s simpler to regulate the general saltiness of the pilaf this fashion.
- Parmesan Cheese – Non-compulsory, to sprinkle over the completed pilaf when serving. Freshly grated parmesan is greatest!
Tips on how to Make Orzo Pilaf With Mushrooms
When you’ve gathered your pilaf elements, it’s time to get began. Right here’s learn how to put collectively this straightforward mushroom rice pilaf with orzo:
- Sauté the veggies. Begin by sautéeing the onion, mushrooms, and carrots in a preheated skillet with oil. Season with a little bit of salt, and let that prepare dinner for a couple of minutes till the veggies soften. Then, stir within the garlic.
- Add the orzo and prepare dinner. Add the orzo pasta and rosemary, then pour within the veggie inventory and produce the pot to a boil. Decrease the warmth to a simmer and go away the orzo to prepare dinner, lined, for 10 minutes. Afterward, let the pot stand off the warmth for five minutes.
- End and serve. Lastly, stir in contemporary parsley and season the pilaf to style. Garnish with parmesan, and dig in!
Ideas and Variations
- Don’t overcook the pasta. Similar to overcooked rice, overcooked orzo shall be mushy. Totally different manufacturers could have completely different cooking instances, so take a look at the orzo whereas it cooks to verify it doesn’t transcend al dente. You’ll be able to all the time drain a number of the further broth if there’s an excessive amount of liquid left over.
- Add protein. Bulk up your mushroom orzo pilaf with cooked shredded or cubed rooster breast or shrimp. Stir it in after the orzo is cooked and let it warmth via.
- Extra veggies. If mushrooms aren’t your factor, you possibly can sauté nearly any vegetable you’d like. Good choices are asparagus, broccoli, diced candy potato, frozen peas, and greens like kale or child spinach.
Storing and Reheating Leftovers
- Refrigerate. Switch the cooled orzo pilaf to an hermetic container and retailer leftovers within the fridge for as much as 4 days.
- Reheat. Heat the pilaf in a saucepan on the range, or within the microwave till it’s scorching all through.
- Freeze. You’ll be able to freeze leftover mushroom orzo for as much as 2 months. Ensure that it’s cooled fully and maintain it in a freezer-safe container. Thaw the orzo within the fridge earlier than reheating. You might discover that the feel of the pasta modifications slightly after it’s thawed, however the flavors will nonetheless be scrumptious.
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Sauté the veggies. Warmth olive oil in a big skillet. Add diced onion, mushrooms, and carrots, and season with salt. Cook dinner, stirring often, for five to 7 minutes or till veggies are tender. Stir in minced garlic and proceed to prepare dinner for an extra 20 seconds.
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Add the orzo and prepare dinner. Add orzo, rosemary, and vegetable inventory. Stir and produce to a boil. Cut back warmth to a simmer and canopy with a lid. Proceed to prepare dinner for 10 minutes. Take away from warmth and let stand, lined, for five minutes.
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End and serve. Stir in parsley, then style for seasoning and regulate accordingly. Garnish the mushroom orzo pilaf with grated parmesan cheese and serve.
Energy: 187kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 5g | Fats: 8g | Saturated Fats: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 1g | Monounsaturated Fats: 5g | Sodium: 486mg | Potassium: 319mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 2844IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 19mg | Iron: 1mg
Dietary information is an estimate and supplied as courtesy. Values could differ in response to the elements and instruments used. Please use your most well-liked dietary calculator for extra detailed information.
