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–+ servings
Orzo rice pilaf served in an oval pan and two spoons inside it.
5 from 4 votes

Orzo Rice Pilaf

By Zerrin & Yusuf
A light and fluffy rice pilaf with orzo recipe that comes out fluffy every time.
Yields: 4 servings
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PREP 5 minutes
COOK 20 minutes
TOTAL 25 minutes

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INGREDIENTS
  

  • 300 g rice We use Turkish Baldo rice. Italian Arborio rice would work too. Read the notes 1 and 2 below.
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 60 g orzo
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 375 ml water
  • 1 tablespoon parsley for garnish, optional

INSTRUCTIONS
 

  • Put the rice in a sieve. Rinse under warm water well to remove the starch until the water gets clear. Drain well.
  • Heat olive oil in a large shallow pan. Add orzo and cook it over medium heat until brown, stirring occasionally.
  • Add in rice. Cook stirring occasionally until the rice gets bright white, about 5 minutes.
  • Pour hot water over rice, add salt, cover the pan and bring it to boil.
  • Bring the heat to the lowest when it boils and let it simmer until all the water is absorbed, for about 10 minutes. Remove from heat. Give it a gentle stir.
  • Let it rest covered for 10 minutes before serving.
  • Gently stir with a wooden spoon or fluff with a fork and serve.

NOTES

  1. Turkish baldo rice is the ideal choice for making a classic pilaf in Turkish cuisine. If baldo rice is unavailable, Italian arborio rice is a good substitute due to its similarity. In the absence of both, high-quality long-grain white rice will also work well.
  2. The water-to-rice ratio we use: 1¼ cups of water for 1 cup of rice. If, during cooking, the rice looks undercooked or the liquid has evaporated too quickly, add 1–2 tablespoons of hot water, cover, and continue cooking on low heat until tender. If needed, you can slightly increase the water next time, up to about 1⅓ cups per cup of rice.
  3. Always simmer at the lowest heat for the best results.

NUTRITION

Calories: 118kcalCarbohydrates: 11gProtein: 2gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gSodium: 588mgPotassium: 39mgFiber: 1gSugar: 0.4gVitamin A: 84IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 8mgIron: 0.3mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

ADDITIONAL INFO

Course Side Dish
Cuisine Turkish
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