Mushroom Orzo Pilaf

Why I Love This Mushroom Orzo Pilaf

• Full of taste. I LOVE mushrooms, so naturally, I really 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, steadily stirring in inventory as typical risotto recipes name for. 
• One pot. As a result of I’m all about sensible shortcuts, all it’s good to make this recipe is one pan and fewer than half-hour. It’s the weeknight dinner you want in your life!

Components You’ll Want

Much 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 components you’ll want right here. Scroll all the way down to the recipe card for the printable checklist with the complete recipe particulars.

• Olive Oil – Or one other cooking oil, like avocado oil.
• Yellow Onion – Diced. You need to use any white or yellow, delicate onion you’d like.
• Mushrooms – These might 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 purchase a bag of frozen diced carrots and thaw them out beforehand.
• Herbs – I exploit a mixture of freshly minced garlic, chopped rosemary leaves, and parsley. Thyme is one other herb that works effectively with mushrooms. You’ll additionally want salt and pepper for seasoning.
• Orzo – You’ll discover orzo within the pasta aisle. I exploit entire wheat orzo, however any form works. Should you can’t discover orzo, it’s also possible to 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 manner.
• Parmesan Cheese – Optionally available, to sprinkle over the completed pilaf when serving. Freshly grated parmesan is greatest!

Methods to Make Orzo Pilaf With Mushrooms

When you’ve gathered your pilaf components, it’s time to get began. Right here’s the way 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 convey the pot to a boil. Decrease the warmth to a simmer and go away the orzo to prepare dinner, coated, 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!

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. Be certain that it’s cooled utterly and maintain it in a freezer-safe container. Thaw the orzo within the fridge earlier than reheating. You could discover that the feel of the pasta modifications a little bit after it’s thawed, however the flavors will nonetheless be scrumptious.