Orzo
Also known as: risoni, kritharaki, rice-shaped pasta
Small dry pasta shaped like a grain of rice, made from durum wheat semolina and water; the Italian word orzo means barley.
Orzo is a small dry pasta shaped like a grain of rice, made from durum wheat semolina and water. The Italian word orzo means barley; the same shape is also sold as risoni.
In Italy, dry pasta of this kind is made only from durum wheat semolina and water (DPR 187/2001, art. 6).
Cooking times depend on the producer: Garofalo gives 5 minutes for its Orzo n.26, Rummo 7 minutes for Semi di Orzo n.27, Barilla 9–10 minutes for Orzo and 10 minutes for Risoni n.26. Rummo states the size of its Semi di Orzo as 10.65 mm long, 2.6 mm wide and 1.6 mm thick.
Producers recommend orzo mainly for soups and broths, and for children's first meals. Garofalo mentions the Neapolitan orzo in lengthened broth and orzo with clams. Barilla says orzo can replace Arborio rice in risotto and that its risoni can be cooked like rice or like pasta, including in dry and cold dishes.
Facts
| Raw material | Durum wheat semolina and water |
|---|---|
| Duration | 5–10 min (depending on producer) |
| Main use | Soups and broths; risotto-style and cold dishes |
What it includes
- ALB-GOLD Bio Hartweizen Nudelreis
- ALB-GOLD Nudelreis
- Banza Chickpea Orzo
- Barilla Risoni n.26
- Benedetto Cavalieri Risoni n.12
- Birkel's No.1 Graupen
- Colavita Orzo
- De Cecco Orzo n.74
- De Cecco Risi n.674 all'uovo
- Di Martino Orzo
- Di Martino Orzo Barbie
- Felicetti Risoni
- Filiz Arpa Şehriye
- Garofalo Orzo n.26
- La Fabbrica della Pasta i Risoni
- La Molisana Pasta a riso n.62
- Liguori Orzo
- Lubella Ryż 2-jajeczny
- Makarony Polskie Orzo
- Melissa Bio Kritharaki Metrio
- Melissa Chrysi Epilogi Kritharaki Metrio
- Melissa Gluten Free Kritharaki
- Melissa Kritharaki Chondro
- Melissa Kritharaki Metrio
- Melissa Olikis Alesis Kritharaki Metrio
- Melissa Ryzaki
- Misko Chrysi Seira Kritharaki
- Misko Kritharaki Chondro
- Misko Kritharaki Metrio
- Misko Olikis Alesis Kritharaki
- Misko Ryzaki
- Panzani Risetti
- Pâtes Grand'Mère Pépinettes
- Recheis Goldmarke Nudelreis
- Ronzoni Orzo
- Rummo Semi di Orzo n.27
- Rustichella d'Abruzzo Orzo Pasta
- Rustichella d'Abruzzo Riso Pasta
- Sorrentino Risone Primi Pasti
- Tress Nudelreis
- Valfleuri Pepinettes
How it connects to Pasta
Orzo → kind of → Dry durum wheat pasta → kind of → 🍝 Pasta
Links
- What it contains
- Semolina, 🌾 Durum wheat
- Part of
- Dry durum wheat pasta
- Similar and different
- Acini di pepe, Fregula, Makarony Polskie Klasyczne, Misko Vasiki Seira, Misko Chrysi Seira, Melissa Klassiki Seira, Melissa Bio, Melissa Gluten Free, Barilla I Classici, Colavita Classic Cuts
Frequently asked questions
Is orzo rice or barley?
Neither. It is pasta made from durum wheat semolina and water, shaped like a grain of rice; the Italian word orzo means barley.
How long do you cook orzo?
It depends on the producer: 5 minutes for Garofalo Orzo n.26, 7 for Rummo Semi di Orzo n.27, 9–10 for Barilla Orzo, 10 for Barilla Risoni n.26. Follow the pack.
What is orzo used for?
Producers recommend it for soups and broths. Barilla also suggests it in place of Arborio rice in risotto and its risoni in dry and cold dishes.
What to read next
- Semolina — Coarse, yellowish meal ground from durum wheat: the main raw material of dry pasta.
- Acini di pepe — Very small dry soup pasta in tiny bead shapes, “peppercorns” in Italian, made from durum wheat semolina and water.
- Melissa Klassiki Seira — The classic range of Melissa dry pasta from 100% durum wheat semolina: spaghetti, hollow macaroni, kritharaki, tortellini and more.
- 🌾 Durum wheat — A wheat species with very hard grain and strong gluten, milled into semolina for dry pasta and couscous.
- Misko Vasiki Seira — Misko's basic range of dry durum wheat semolina pasta: spaghetti, pastitsio, kritharaki, kofto and other Greek formats.
Similar
Acini di pepe · Bucatini · Gemelli · Alphabet pasta · Fregula · Radiatori
Sources
- DPR 9 febbraio 2001, n. 187, art. 6 — Normattiva
- Garofalo — N° 26 Orzo
- Rummo — Semi di Orzo n.27
- Barilla — Risoni N°26
- Barilla — Orzo