Name: Turkish Rice Pilaf with Orzo
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Turkish
Ingredients: 1 cup long-grain white rice; 3 tablespoons olive oil; ¼ cup orzo; 1 teaspoon lemon juice; 1 teaspoon salt; 1 and ¾ cup water, hot; Parsley for garnish

Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

This 6-ingredient rice pilaf with orzo is simple, delicious and a great alternative to heavier side dishes. It turns out perfectly fluffy every time, so will definitely become your ultimate side dish.

Rice pilaf with orzo is one of my all-time favorite recipes because of how easy it is to make. On top of that it’s also extremely flexible. With just six ingredients, plus water, the contents of this dish are something I always have at home. In fact, this is my go-to side for dishes like Roasted Chicken with Veggies or Turkish vegetarian dishes like Okra With Tomatoes. I love adding almonds, raisins and mint for a flavorful twist, or experimenting with whatever is in the pantry.

How do you like orzo in general? It is one of the staples in our pantry. We use it quite often not only when making rice pilaf, but we also love it in soups like Tomato Chicken Orzo Soup and salads like Cucumber Lemon Orzo Salad. If you like this pasta as much as we do, I’m sure you will love this Turkish side dish too.

How to Make Rice Pilaf with Orzo

This recipe is so easy with simple ingredients and comes together in about 45 minutes, including soaking and resting time. The first cooking step is to toast the orzo and sauté the rice in olive oil. This helps build flavor and helps with texture before the water is added to cook both ingredients.

Squeeze lemon and sprinkle salt over them, stir well. Pour water and cook it covered over the lowest heat until all water is gone. Please read the full instructions in the recipe card below.

Some Tips for Fluffy Rice Pilaf

I always find cooking rice to be a challenge, but over the years I’ve amassed some great tips for success. First, make sure to soak your rice in hot water. Add a sprinkle of salt, stir and let it sit for about 10 minutes. Next, rinse the rice and drain it well before adding it to the pan. Rinsing the rice removes the starch on the outside of the grain. This will make your pilaf extra fluffy because it prevents the rice from sticking together and getting mushy.

Another great way to stop the rice grains from sticking together is adding a few drops of lemon to the cooking water. It’s also important to cook this dish covered and on the lowest heat. This gives the rice time to absorb the cooking water and develop flavor.

Finally, allow your rice pilaf with orzo to rest for at least 15 minutes before serving. When it’s done cooking, simply place a paper towel over the top of the pan and replace the lid. When you’re ready to eat, remove the lid and paper towel and fluff the pilaf with a fork.

What type of rice for this rice and orzo pilaf recipe?

I recommend long-grain white rice for this recipe, but you can experiment with any type you’d like. If you’re using brown or wild rice, increase the cooking time and add a little bit more water to ensure that it cooks fully.

Alternative Flavors for Rice Pilaf with Orzo Recipe

If you’d like to up the flavor in this rice pilaf with orzo recipe you can use stock instead of water to cook the rice and orzo. Keep it vegan with vegetable or mushroom stock or try chicken or beef stock. Remember that stock usually contains salt, so you can season the pilaf a little less.

You may also want to try adding other flavorings to the pilaf when it’s simmering. Try stirring in raisins or chickpeas. Nuts such as pine nuts or chopped almonds can be added during the simmering process and sprinkled on top for texture. When it’s time to garnish, feel free to try other herbs such as mint or thyme.

Is This Rice Pilaf Vegan?

This recipe is 100% vegan! Since it uses olive oil and water to toast and cook the pilaf there are absolutely no animal products in this rice and orzo pilaf. If you’re not concerned about this being vegan and prefer the flavor of butter, you can use that instead of olive oil to toast the orzo in the recipe.

Vegan or not, I can’t wait to see how you make this recipe your own! Please don’t forget to rate this recipe and leave a comment below if you make it.

Want more side dish recipes for this holiday season? Check the following links out!

Bacon Garlic Rice

Cheesy Cauliflower Salad

Gluten Free Green Bean Casserole

Mustard Glazed Brussels Sprouts

Roasted Glazed Carrots

Roasted Pepper Potato Salad