Bookwormans Spicy Orzo Food

CREAMY ORZO

Steps:

• Bring a heavy large saucepan of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the orzo and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring often, about 8 minutes. Drain, reserving 1 cup of the cooking liquid.
• Meanwhile, heat the oil in a heavy large frying pan over medium heat. Add the shallot and garlic, and saute until tender, about 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes and cook until they are tender, about 8 minutes. Stir in the cream and peas. Add the orzo and toss to coat. Remove the skillet from the heat. Add the Parmesan to the pasta mixture and toss to coat. Stir the pasta mixture until the sauce coats the pasta thickly, adding enough reserved cooking liquid to maintain a creamy consistency. Season the orzo with salt and pepper, and serve.

BOOKWORMAN'S SPICY ORZO

Steps:

• Heat oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add meat and sauté until cooked through, breaking up with back of spoon, about 5 minutes. Drain fat. Reduce heat to medium. Add garlic, ginger and chili to same skillet and sauté 2 minutes. Add cardamom, curry powder and orzo and stir for 1 minute. Add broth, canned tomatoes, and about 1 cup water and bring mixture to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and cook until orzo is tender and most of broth is absorbed, stirring occasionally and maybe adding more water to prevent sticking on bottom of skillet, about 15 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Stir in cilantro and serve.

SPICY INDIAN ORZO

Steps:

• Heat oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add lamb and sauté until cooked through, breaking up with back of spoon, about 5
• minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer lamb to bowl.
• Reduce heat to medium. Add garlic, ginger and chili to same skillet and sauté 2 minutes. Add cardamom, curry powder and orzo and stir to 1 minute. Add broth and bring mixture to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and cook until orzo is tender and most of broth is absorbed, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking on bottom of skillet, about 15 minutes. Return lamb to skillet and mix in. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Mound pilaf on large platter. Garnish with tomato and cilantro and serve.

BAKED COD WITH CREAMY MUSHROOM & LEEK ORZO

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Tip the flour into a bowl and season. Dip each cod fillet into the flour until evenly coated. Heat 1 tbsp of the oil in a non-stick frying pan over a medium-high heat and fry the cod on each side for 2 mins, or until golden brown. Transfer to a roasting tin with the lemon slices on top and nestled in half the thyme. Bake for 10 mins.
• Heat the remaining oil in a pan and fry the leeks and mushrooms for 5 mins over a medium-high heat. Add the orzo and stock, and cook for 10 mins over a high heat, stirring continuously until tender. Stir through the crème fraîche and lemon zest. Season. Serve the orzo with the cod on top, along with the roasted lemon slices.

CHICKEN CACCIATORE ONE-POT WITH ORZO

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Rub 1 tbsp oil over the chicken and season well, then put skin-side up in an ovenproof casserole dish or roasting tin and bake for 20-25 mins until crisp and golden, but not cooked all the way though. Remove from the dish and put on a plate.
• Add the remaining oil to the dish, mixing it with the chicken fat. Tip in the onion and garlic, then bake for 5-8 mins until the onion is tender.
• Pour in the wine, stirring it with the onions, then leave to evaporate slightly in the residual heat before adding the bay, thyme, rosemary, parsley stalks and tomatoes. Dissolve the stock cube in 300ml boiling water and pour this in, then add the vinegar, capers, if using, olives and orzo. Stir well and season.
• Nestle the chicken back in the pan, skin-side up, and roast for 20 mins until the sauce is thickened, the orzo is tender and the meat is cooked through. Give it a stir, then leave for 10 mins for the orzo to absorb the excess liquid. Scatter over the parsley leaves to serve.

HERBY ORZO & LEMON SALAD

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil and butter in a non-stick frying pan over a medium heat, and fry the onion for 10-15 mins, or until golden and caramelised. Add the garlic and sugar and cook for a further 3 mins. Season to taste.
• Cook the orzo following pack instructions. Drain, then toss with a little of the extra virgin olive oil and leave to cool completely. Whisk the remaining oil with the lemon juice and set aside.
• Toss the orzo with the sticky onion and garlic, the lemony dressing, herbs and capers, along with half the toasted almonds. Season. Spoon onto a sharing plate and top with the rest of the almonds. Will keep in the fridge for up to three days.