Orzo and Green Bean Pilaf
Orzo is versatile, small rice shaped pasta that is most often added to Mediterranean soups and stews. It also makes a great side dish. Because of the shape, it can be substituted for rice in just about any dish. Once cooked, nearly anything can be added for endless variations of side dishes or pasta salads.
I love haricot verts, those thin baby French green beans that are have become a staple on the grocery shelves here in Las Vegas (even Wal-Mart!). In this easy recipe, I have sliced them thinly on the bias and sautéed them in a small amount of butter with some green onions and tossed them with orzo cooked in a well-seasoned chicken broth for a side dish that tastes as good as it looks.
The secret to this dish is the broth. Make your own, if you have time. In a pinch, store bought stock will do. If you insist on using instant broth cubes, look for the jars of “Better Than Boullion” brand stock base that can be found on the grocery shelf next to the jars of boullion cubes. It’s still not homemade stock, but it’s far better than the cubes and works very well in quick dishes like this one.
Orzo and Green Bean Pilaf
2 cups well-seasoned chicken broth
1 cup orzo
2 Tbs olive oil or butter
8 oz green beans sliced thinly on the diagonal
2 green onions sliced thinly on the diagonal
1 2 oz jar diced pimiento, drained
Bring the water to a boil. Add the orzo. Cook uncovered 8-9 minutes, until the pasta is still al dente and has absorbed most of the water. Set aside while the pasta absorbs all of the liquid.
In the meantime, melt the butter in a sauté pan and add the green beans. Sauté just until crisp-tender. Remove from the heat and add the green onions. Let set for a few minutes to allow the heat remaining in the pan to wilt the green onions. Add the green beans mixture and drained pimiento to the cooked orzo. Gently toss with a fork to combine. Serve right away or at room temperature.
Serves 6
We tried this recipie for the first time and it was a great hit with our guests. Wanting to try this again we ran out of green beans, so we substituted asparagras instead. Great recipie and goes well with almost any dish.
Asparagus would be outstanding in this recipe…great idea!
Seems like a good meal, will try it at once.
Great dish. healthy and easy to whip up! thanks
I’m with you. If you don’t have homemade broth, make some. Great recipe. Very fresh.
At first i thought it was rice, yes it is but it’s pasta shaped rice, i really love pasta but i’m not familiar in orzo. These recipe is so easy to prepare, in just a few minutes you have this healthy recipe. Great one and it look so yummy.
At first i saw the picture of these recipe i thought it was a rice,yes it is but it’s a pasta shaped rice, i’m not familiar in orzo, but i really love pasta. These recipe is so easy to prepare, in just a few minutes you have these recipe.Great one and it looks so yummy.
This one looks really nice:) and guess tasted nace as well:)