Dinner for Two
20121113OrzoRisotto.jpg

[Photograph: Kerry Saretsky]

Just brown some good Italian sausage and shallot in olive oil, and then add orzo and water or stock. Stir every few minutes, and as if by magic, the orzo drinks up all the stock and sits in a creamy, starchy, thick liquid that looks just like risotto made with rice, but with a lot less babysitting. Stir in peas and Parmesan and a bit of parsley, and you have a one-bowl dish that satisfies all cravings—for pasta, for risotto, for meat, for vegetables. It's so hearty and comforting, and yet slightly different.

About the author: Kerry Saretsky is the creator of French Revolution Food, where she reinvents her family's classic French recipes in a fresh, chic, modern way.

Every recipe we publish is tested, tasted, and Serious Eats-approved by our staff. Never miss a recipe again by following @SeriousRecipes on Twitter!

About This Recipe

Yield: serves 2
Active time: 20 minutes
Total time: 20 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • 10 ounces Italian sausage, removed from its casing
  • 1 medium shallot, minced (about 1/4 cup)
  • 1/2 pound orzo
  • 3 cups hot water or low-sodium homemade or store-bought vegetable or chicken stock
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 cup frozen peas
  • 1/4 cup finely grated Parmigiano Reggiano
  • A handful of chopped flat-leaf parsley (optional)

Procedures

  1. Heat the oil into a medium saucepan over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the sausage and cook, breaking it up into small pieces until no longer pink. Add the shallot and sauté until translucent, about 1 minute. Add the orzo and water or stock. Use a wooden spoon to help scrape any of the brown bits on the bottom of the pan from the sausage. Bring to a boil, then cover, and reduce the heat to medium-low. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the orzo has absorbed all the liquid and is cooked through (add more liquid if orzo starts to dry out or stick to the bottom). Season to taste with salt and pepper. Stir in the peas, and allow to cook for a minute or two just to thaw. Remove from the heat, and stir in the Parmesan and parsley. Serve immediately.