One Pot Orzo Stew

Orzo in Italian means Barley. This is how the pasta got it’s name – due to the resemblance with the grain.

Although originating in Italy, Orzo has long been popular in other cuisines, particularly those along the Mediterranean Coast & the Middle East. Orzo is a smooth pasta, which means it has a pleasant texture that doesn’t tend to ’stick’. Thanks to this, it is widely used in soups, salads and ‘pilaf’ like dishes.

We use this ‘grain’ in a delicious one pot dish accented by the flavours of tomatoes, celery, and bell peppers. We tried to keep the soul of this dish in the Middle East, and complemented the orzo with the hints of heating cinnamon and bay leaf.