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Creamy Lemon-Pepper Orzo

in The Too Busy to Diet Blog on February 21, 2014

Written by Jennifer Martin, Dietetic Student at University of Illinois at Chicago

Have you ever heard of orzo before? If not, or if you’ve never had it before, you might want to buy it and try it. Orzo is pasta that has been cut into the shape of rice, giving it a fun and chewy texture. You can use it as an alternative to risotto, because it cooks much faster (in just 9 minutes). You may find that you will love the chewy texture of it! Also, since pasta can be made with other grains besides wheat, barley, and rye, there are gluten-free options for orzo.

Orzo works fantastically in casseroles, soups, or as a side dish. Lucy ate it as a side dish with chicken! For a fantastic family-friendly recipe, try this Creamy Lemon-Pepper Orzo with Grilled Chicken (recipe here). This easy recipe takes about 55 minutes to prepare. If you’re short on time during the week, make it with the family on the weekend and double the recipe so that you can eat leftovers.

Enjoy!