If you love quick comfort food that tastes like it came straight from a Mediterranean restaurant, this quick and easy orzo rice recipe will become your new go-to. Also known as Turkish rice pilaf, it's made with just5 ingredients and ready in under 30 minutes. A cozy rice dinner recipe that turns simple ingredients into pure flavor.
This rice pilaf recipe with orzo combines long-grain rice with toasted orzo for a golden, nutty base that pairs perfectly with almost everything, from grilled meats and seafood, to legumes, beans and roasted vegetables. Every spoonful of this orzo rice is buttery, fluffy, and comforting, making it one of the most satisfying, easy rice meals you can cook on a busy weeknight.
✏️ In Greece and Lebanon the same dish is made with angel hair pasta. If you want to try it this way, measure the pasta by weight for better accuracy.
In Turkey I always find this rice dish made with orzo. And after tasting many variations, I concluded that the secret to the perfect rice orzo pilaf is to toast the orzo until it turns deep brown before adding the rice. That's what gives this Turkish rice dish its signature aroma and rich flavor. There's really nothing more that you'll need.
For more side dishes recipes like this, don't miss this Easy Bulgur Pilaf (Turkish Recipe) made in under 30 minutes, and this Moroccan rice pilaf with nuts. And if you love orzo, make sure to try this one pan recipe for Greek lemon chicken and orzo or even better, check out this article with 15 of the best orzo recipes.
📋 Ingredient notes
To make this orzo rice recipe (şehriyeli pilav) you'll need the following ingredients:
Butter: I use unsalted cow's milk butter in this rice and orzo pilaf just so I can control the amount of salt better. You can also use a mix of butter and olive oil (1:1 ratio is common), butter for flavor, and olive oil to prevent it from burning.
✏️ In Turkey, many home cooks prefer village-style or cultured butter (köy tereyağı), which has a deeper flavor and higher butterfat than commercial brands.
Rice: The traditional rice for şehriyeli pilav is a short-grain rice, called Baldo Rice (Baldo Pirinç). Since Baldo rice has a slightly sticky texture, I use long-grain rice such as Jasmine or Basmati, for a fluffier result.
Orzo pasta: also known as risoni in some countries, it is a small, barley-shaped pasta made from durum wheat. For a healthier touch, you can use whole wheat orzo, and if you avoid gluten, you can also use gluten-free orzo pasta (made from alternative flours that don't contain wheat).
Broth: It can be chicken broth, vegetable broth, water mixed with a chicken bouillon or even just plain water. I suggest chicken broth, because it will be much more flavorful!
For the full list of ingredients with quantities, please see the recipe card ⬇️ at the end of this post.
👨🍳 Expert Tips
Follow these easy tips to make the best rice pilaf with orzo every time:
✅ Orzo can brown too fast so keep a close eye on it! If you notice that suddenly it's getting too dark, just remove the pot from the heat to prevent it form burning. Having that said, don't be afraid to toast it until it reaches a rally dark brown color. This is where all the flavor is!
✅ Once the orzo rice is ready and you turn off the heat, put a layer of paper towels under the lid and let it rest for 10 minutes or more. The paper towels will absorb the extra moisture and will leave the grains tender and fluffy.
✅ Add ¼ cup of toasted sliced almonds to the pilaf, just before serving. Their nutty taste and crunchy texture will take this dish to another level.
🎥 Orzo Rice Video
Watch this short video for how to make the best Turkish rice:
🎵 Music on Video: relaxing ballad, Musician: Alexander Nakarada
📖 Recipe
Quick and Easy Orzo Rice (a.k.a. Turkish Rice Pilaf)
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons (25 g) butter (or olive oil)
- ½ cup (100 g) orzo pasta (see note#1)
- 1 cup (200 g) long grain rice such as Jasmine or Basmati (rinsed and drained. See note#2)
- 2 ½ cups (600 g) chicken broth (or vegetable broth, boiling hot, see note#3)
- ¼ teaspoon salt
For serving (optional):
- Chopped fresh parsley, Greek yogurt, chili flakes
Instructions
- Place a pot over medium heat and add the butter and orzo. Stir continuously until the orzo turns deep brown (or until it reaches your preferred level of color).👉 keep a close eye on it because it can brown too fast.
- Stir in the rice and saute for 2 more minutes.
- Carefully add the chicken broth (it will bubble vigorously) and the salt, stir and bring to a boil. Then, reduce heat to a slow simmer, cover the pot with a lid and cook for 11-12 minutes or until the liquid has been absorbed.
- Remove from the heat, place a double layer of paper towels over the pot and cover with the lid. Rest for at least 10 minutes, but the longer the better!Fluff with a fork very gently, and serve with fresh parsley and Greek yogurt.
Notes
Similar recipes you'll love:
- Mediterranean Vegetable Orzo Pasta (One Pot Recipe)
- Lebanese Mujadara (Lentils and Rice Recipe)
- Best Lemon Garlic Pearl Couscous Recipe
Nutrition
What other people add to this dish
These are the most common things others add to this rice pilaf with orzo:
- Peas: Stir in frozen peas when they add the broth, for added color and sweetness.
- Mushrooms: Sauté finely diced mushrooms with shallots until softened and browned.
- Carrots: Add finely diced carrots along with onions for a subtle sweetness.
- Bell Peppers: Incorporate diced bell peppers for added crunch and color.
- Broccoli: Add chopped broccoli when they add the broth.
- Toasted Nuts: Incorporate toasted almonds or pine nuts for crunch and depth.
- Chives instead of parsley.
- Spices: Season with garlic powder, onion powder, or smoked paprika, to deepen flavor.
💭 FAQs
Orzo is actually a tiny pasta shaped like rice, and that's exactly why this dish has the best of both worlds: the texture of rice with the richness of toasted pasta. Simple, fast, and unbelievably good.
🍳 More dishes with rice to try
If you tried this Recipe, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. I love hearing from you!
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