Best Artichoke Orzo Pilaf Recipes

ARTICHOKES WITH ORZO MACARONI

Steps:

• Trim the stems off the artichokes. Cook the artichokes, covered, in boiling salted water until tender -about 30 minutes, or until a wooden skewer will pierce through an artichoke to the bottom of the pot and come away easily, without lifting the artichoke. Drain and cool slightly.
• Using a sharp, thin paring knife, cut out the base of each artichoke, removing both the choke and the heart, producing a round piece about 2 to 2 1/2 inches in diameter. Scrape out the choke with a spoon. Cut the heart into 1/4-inch slices and reserve. Using a sharp, heavy knife, carefully cut the remaining upper portion of the artichokes in half vertically and arrange the halves around the edge of a large, deep platter, with their insides facing up and their bases toward the center of the platter.
• Put the olive oil and garlic cloves into a large skillet and simmer over low heat until the garlic turns a pale gold, about 5 minutes. Add the sun-dried tomatoes, vinegars, sugar, salt and pepper and simmer 2 minutes, mixing well. Add the artichoke heart slices, mix and simmer 2 minutes more.
• Carry the skillet to the serving platter and, using a teaspoon, spoon a bit of the liquid in the skillet into the cup formed by the inside of each artichoke, leaving behind about half of the liquid in the skillet.
• Add the cooked orzo to the skillet, stirring to mix the orzo with the rest of the ingredients. Check the seasoning for salt and for vinegar. Carefully pile the mixed orzo in the center of the platter.

GREEK ORZO ARTICHOKE SALAD

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
• Drain artichoke hearts, reserving liquid.
• In large bowl combine pasta, artichoke hearts, garlic, tomato, cucumber, onion, feta, olives, parsley, lemon juice, oregano and lemon pepper. Toss and chill for 1 hour in refrigerator.
• Just before serving, drizzle reserved artichoke marinade over salad.

BAKED ORZO WITH ARTICHOKES AND PEAS

Steps:

• Make the béchamel and set aside.
• Prepare the artichokes. Fill a bowl with water and add the lemon juice. Cut away the stem and the top third of each artichoke, break off the leaves and trim them down to the bottoms, placing them in the water as you go along. Quarter them and slice large quarters about 1/4 inch thick. Save the leaves and steam them; serve them as a first course or a side dish.
• Drain the artichoke hearts and dry on a clean dish towel. Heat the oil over medium-high heat in a large, heavy skillet. Add the sliced artichoke hearts and cook, stirring, until lightly browned and tender, about 10 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Turn down the heat and add the garlic. Cook just until fragrant, about 30 seconds, and remove from the heat.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Oil a 2-quart baking dish. Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil and add the orzo. Cook 5 minutes, add the peas and continue to boil for another 4 minutes, until the orzo is just tender but still firm to the bite. Drain and transfer to a large bowl. Add the artichokes, herbs, béchamel and Parmesan and stir together until the sauce coats all of the other ingredients. Transfer to the prepared baking dish.
• Place in the oven and bake 30 minutes, until lightly colored on top.

ORZO WITH ARTICHOKES AND PINE NUTS

Steps:

• Cook orzo in a 4- to 5-quart pot of boiling salted water until al dente. Drain in a colander.
• While orzo cooks, lightly toast pine nuts in a dry small skillet over moderate heat, stirring, until pale golden, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and cool 1 minute, then coarsely chop.
• Drain artichoke hearts in a large sieve and rinse well. Pull off leaves from bases of hearts and quarter bases. Rinse leaves and bases well, then drain thoroughly.
• Stir together oil, vinegar, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Add orzo, pine nuts, artichokes (leaves and bases), parsley, and zest and toss to combine.

HERBED ORZO PILAF

Steps:

• Saute 1 chopped onion and 1 thyme sprig in butter over medium heat until golden; season with salt. Increase the heat to medium high; add 1 cup orzo and toast 2 minutes. Add 2 cups chicken broth and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to medium low, cover and cook until the orzo is tender, 15 minutes. Stir in some chopped dill. Top with sour cream and paprika.

MEDITERRANEAN ORZO VEGETABLE PILAF

Steps:

• In a 10 inches skillet over medium-high heat, heat the olive oil, then stir in the uncooked orzo, and green onion.
• Cook, stirring frequently, until the orzo is lightly browned, about 3 minutes.
• Stir in the broth and wine and heat until boiling, then reduce heat, cover and simmer about 6 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Stir in the peppers, chickpeas, olives and capers, and cook covered another 6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until most liquid is absorbed.
• Pour into a bowl and sprinkle with the 2 T of parmesan cheese.

ORZO PILAF WITH MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, saute mushrooms and onion in oil until tender. Add garlic; cook and stir 1 minute longer. Add the broth, orzo, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 10-14 minutes or until pasta is tender. Stir in parsley.