Bookwormans Spicy Orzo Recipes

SPICY CHICKEN AND ORZO SKILLET

Steps:

• In 12-inch skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat until hot. Add chicken and garlic; cook and stir 3 minutes. Add carrots and onion; cover and cook 2 to 3 minutes or until vegetables are crisp-tender, stirring once.
• Stir in all remaining ingredients except spinach. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 12 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until most of liquid is absorbed and orzo is tender.
• Stir in spinach; cover and cook 2 to 3 minutes longer or until spinach is wilted.

ORZO WITH SPINACH AND TOMATOES

Steps:

• Pile spinach leaves in stacks 1 on top of the other. Thinly slice stacks of leaves to make spinach confetti. Pile shredded spinach into the bottom of a medium sized mixing bowl. Halve grape or cherry tomatoes with a paring knife and add them to the mixing bowl. Add the zest of 2 lemons to the bowl and save the lemons in the refrigerator to juice for another recipe. Add hot cooked and drained orzo pasta to the mixing bowl. The heat of the pasta will wilt the spinach and warm the tomatoes at the bottom of the bowl and get the juices flowing from veggies. The heat of the pasta will also release the flavor and oils in the lemon zest. Drizzle 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil over the pasta and toss to combine the veggies and orzo. Add basil and salt and pepper and toss to combine. Taste your orzo to adjust seasonings and serve.

ONE-POT SHRIMP SCAMPI ORZO

Steps:

• Combine olive oil, lemon zest, lemon juice, red pepper flakes, and dried parsley in a small bowl. Add shrimp and toss to coat. Marinate for 15 to 20 minutes.
• Melt butter in a pot over medium-high heat. Add olive oil. Stir in orzo and onion, toss to coat, and cook, stirring frequently, until onions are translucent and orzo is lightly toasted, 4 to 5 minutes. Mix in garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
• Deglaze pot with white wine and stir until wine has cooked off. Pour in chicken broth and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, until orzo is tender yet firm to the bite, 8 to 10 minutes. Add peas and shrimp with marinade to the pot, cover, and cook, stirring occasionally, until shrimp are light pink, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Divide between 2 dishes, sprinkle with fresh parsley, and garnish with lemon slices.

LEMON SHRIMP ORZO

Steps:

• In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add onion; cook and stir until crisp-tender, 3-4 minutes. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Stir in broth, orzo and water. Bring to a boil; reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered, until orzo is al dente, 8-10 minutes., Stir in shrimp, arugula, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Cook and stir until shrimp turn pink, 4-5 minutes. Stir in olives. Sprinkle with feta and basil leaves.

SPICY ORIENTAL ORZO

Steps:

• Boil orzo pasta in salted water until just done. Drain, rinse, and toss with remaining ingredients in bowl. Serve at room temperature or cold.

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.

ONE POT CHICKEN AND MUSHROOM ORZO

Steps:

• Season chicken with 3/4 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Working in batches, add chicken to the skillet in a single layer and cook until golden brown and cooked through, reaching an internal temperature of 165 degrees F, about 4-5 minutes per side; set aside. Add mushrooms and shallot, and cook, stirring frequently, until tender, about 3-5 minutes. Stir in garlic and thyme until fragrant, about 1 minute. Whisk in flour until lightly browned, about 1 minute. Stir in chicken stock and Dijon, scraping any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet. Stir in orzo; season with salt and pepper, to taste. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until pasta is cooked through, about 6 minutes. Stir in spinach, Parmesan and heavy cream until the spinach has wilted, about 3 minutes. Return chicken to the skillet. Serve immediately, garnished with parsley.

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.