Orzo facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Orzo

Uncooked orzo
Alternative names	Risoni
Type	Pasta
Place of origin	Italy

Orzo, also known as risoni, is a type of pasta. It is a short-cut pasta that looks like a large grain of rice. Orzo comes from Italy, a country famous for its many pasta shapes.

What is Orzo?

Orzo is a small pasta shape. Its name "orzo" means "barley" in Italian. This is because it looks a bit like a grain of barley. It is also called "risoni," which means "big grains" in Italian. Even though it looks like rice, it is made from durum wheat, just like other pastas.

How Orzo is Used

Orzo is very versatile, meaning it can be used in many different ways.

• You can eat orzo on its own as a side dish.
• It is often added to soups, like minestrone, to make them heartier.
• Orzo works well in salads, adding a nice texture.
• It can be cooked like pilaf, where it is lightly fried and then simmered.
• You can also bake orzo in a casserole dish.
• Sometimes, orzo is colored using natural ingredients. Saffron can make it yellow, chilies can make it orange, and black beans can make it black. These colorful pastas look great when mixed together or with white rice.

Orzo Around the World

Orzo is popular in many places, not just Italy. Other countries have similar pasta shapes:

• In Greek cuisine, it is called kritharáki. This also means "little barley."
• In Turkish cuisine, it is known as arpa şehriye, which means "barley noodle."
• In Arab cuisine, it is called lisān al-ʿuṣfūr. This name means "songbird tongue."
• In Spain, a similar pasta is called piñones. Be careful, because piñones is also the Spanish word for pine nuts!
• Ptitim from Israeli cuisine are also similar. However, ptitim are usually round or ball-shaped, not grain-shaped like orzo.

Cooking Orzo

Cooking orzo is quite simple.

• It is often boiled in Italian soups. This makes the soup more filling.
• You can also boil orzo and then lightly fry it. This method makes it similar to risotto, a creamy Italian rice dish. When cooked this way, orzo can absorb flavors and become very tasty.

See also

In Spanish: Orzo para niños