Cooking with Kids: Orzo Pilaf Recipe

Orzo Pilaf

Makes 6 servings

Difficulty Level: Medium to Advanced

Orzo is a rice-shaped pasta, sometimes called "barley" pasta. It makes a nice side dish to serve, instead of rice or potatoes.

Equipment: For this dish you'll need the large colander, a knife, large spoon or spatula, a slotted spoon, a vegetable grater, a large kettle, and a large skillet.

Ingredients:

3 cups chicken broth
(homemade or canned, preferably low-salt)
1 cup orzo
4 slices bacon, chopped into small dice
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 clove garlic, peeled and minced
1/2 cup grated carrots
2 tablespoons each of finely chopped red and green pepper

Preparation:

Bring the chicken broth to a boil and then stir in the orzo pasta. Boil the orzo for about 10 minutes or until it feels and looks tender; drain in a colander in the sink, pouring the water away from you and using potholders to protect your hands; reserve the orzo in the colander.

Cook the bacon in a large skillet until crisp (watch out for splattering grease!). Remove from skillet with the slotted spoon, crumble, and set aside. Drain all but 3 tablespoons (you can estimate here!) of the drippings from skillet. Cook and stir onion, garlic, carrots, and peppers in the skillet until tender but not browned. Stir in the cooked orzo, toss the mixture, heat, and serve topped with the crumbled bacon bits.