If you've ever looked at a bowl of orzo and wondered whether you're eating rice or pasta, you're definitely not alone.
Orzo looks remarkably similar to rice. But despite its grain-like appearance, orzo is actually pasta.
This tiny pasta is incredibly versatile. You can toss it into soups, turn it into a Mediterranean-inspired salad, serve it as a simple side dish or use it in easy one-pot meals.
Here's everything you need to know about what orzo is, how to cook it and what to make with it.
What Is Orzo?
Orzo is a small, rice-shaped pasta.
The word orzo means barley in Italian, referring to the pasta's small, grain-like shape.
Its size makes orzo a little different from familiar pasta shapes like spaghetti, penne or elbows. Instead of being the star of the dish, orzo can easily mingle with vegetables, herbs, sauces and other ingredients.
That makes it especially useful for soups, salads and side dishes.
Is Orzo Rice or Pasta?
Let's settle this one:
Orzo is pasta, not rice.
The confusion makes perfect sense. Put uncooked orzo beside long-grain rice and they can look surprisingly similar.
But rice is a grain, while orzo is a type of pasta.
If you've seen the term “orzo rice,” it's usually referring to orzo's rice-like appearance or a dish combining rice and orzo—not because orzo itself is rice.
What Does Orzo Taste Like?
Orzo has a mild pasta flavor, making it easy to pair with all kinds of ingredients.
It can take on the flavors of broths, sauces, herbs and dressings, which is one reason it works in so many different recipes.
Depending on how you prepare it, orzo can be light and fresh, rich and creamy or warm and comforting.
How Do You Cook Orzo?
One of the easiest ways to prepare orzo is just like regular pasta.
Bring a pot of water to a boil, add the orzo and cook according to the package directions until it reaches your preferred texture.
Then drain it and use it in your recipe.
You can add cooked orzo to salads and side dishes or incorporate it into soups and other meals.
Orzo can also be cooked directly in some soups and one-pot recipes, allowing it to absorb flavor from the cooking liquid.
Does Orzo Need to Be Rinsed?
Usually, you don't need to rinse orzo before cooking it like you might rinse rice.
After cooking, whether you rinse it depends on what you're making.
For a cold pasta salad, cooling the cooked orzo may be useful before adding the other ingredients. For a warm, saucy or creamy dish, you'll generally want to preserve the pasta's starch rather than washing it away.
What Can You Make With Orzo?
This is where orzo earns a permanent place in the pantry.
Try using it for:
- Orzo pasta salad
- Mediterranean orzo salad
- Vegetable soup
- Lemon orzo
- Tomato and herb orzo
- One-pot dinners
- Brothy soups
- Pasta side dishes
- Roasted vegetable bowls
- Creamy orzo dishes
You can also use it as an alternative pasta shape when you simply want to change the texture of a familiar recipe.
Easy Mediterranean Orzo Salad
If you're buying orzo for the first time, this is an easy place to start.
Ingredients
- 1 cup dry orzo
- 1 cup chopped cucumber
- 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes
- ½ cup crumbled feta
- ¼ cup sliced olives
- Fresh parsley or other herbs
- Olive oil
- Fresh lemon juice
- Salt and pepper to taste
Directions
Cook the orzo according to the package directions. Drain and allow it to cool.
Combine the cooked orzo with cucumber, tomatoes, feta, olives and herbs.
Drizzle with olive oil and fresh lemon juice, season to taste and toss everything together.
Serve chilled or at room temperature.
It's simple, fresh and easy to customize with whatever vegetables you already have.
Can You Put Orzo in Soup?
Yes—and orzo is excellent in soup.
Because the pasta is so small, it works particularly well in broth-based soups where larger noodles might overwhelm the other ingredients.
Try adding it to vegetable, tomato, lemon or Mediterranean-inspired soups.
One thing to remember: pasta continues absorbing liquid as it sits. If you're making soup for leftovers, your orzo may soak up some of the broth in the refrigerator.
Orzo vs. Rice: What's the Difference?
Although you can sometimes use them in similar dishes, orzo and rice are fundamentally different foods.
Orzo: pasta with a rice-like shape.
Rice: a grain.
Their cooking methods and final textures can also differ, so you shouldn't automatically substitute one for the other without considering the recipe.
Orzo vs. Fregola
If you enjoy orzo, another small pasta worth discovering is fregola.
Both work beautifully in soups, salads and Mediterranean-inspired dishes, but they aren't the same.
Orzo has an elongated rice-like shape, while fregola is typically rounder and has its own distinctive texture.
Orzo vs. Pipette Pasta
Pipette is another fun pasta shape, but it's much larger than orzo.
Pipette has a curved, tube-like shape that's great for catching sauces and small ingredients. Orzo is much smaller and works particularly well when you want pasta to blend throughout a dish.
Where Can I Buy Orzo?
You'll commonly find packaged orzo alongside other dried pasta at grocery stores.
But sometimes you don't need an entire box.
That's one reason we sell Barilla Orzo by the ounce at Life Essentials Refillery.
Need a little for one pot of soup? Buy a little.
Making a huge pasta salad for a party? Buy more.
You choose the amount that makes sense for your recipe.
Where Can I Buy Orzo in Tampa?
Looking for orzo in Tampa?
You can buy Barilla Orzo by the ounce at:
Life Essentials Refillery
4317 W El Prado Blvd
Tampa, FL 33629
Our Orzo is Non-GMO and available by weight, helping you buy the amount you actually need while reducing unnecessary packaging.
You can also order online.
→ Shop Barilla Orzo Pasta by the Ounce
The Bottom Line
So, what is orzo?
It's pasta masquerading as rice—and that's part of what makes it so useful.
Keep some on hand for quick soups, Mediterranean salads, simple sides and easy weeknight meals. Its small shape works with just about anything, and buying it by the ounce means you don't have to commit to more than you need.