Orzo, which means "barley" in Italian, is used most traditionally in soups, but this very versatile rice-shaped pasta has been widely adapted by chefs in Italy and America for main courses and side dishes.
01. Bring 4 - 6 quarts of water to a rolling boil, add salt to taste.
02. Add contents of package to boiling water. Stir gently.
03. Return to a boil. For authentic "al dente" pasta, boil uncovered, stirring occasionally for 9 minutes. For more tender pasta, boil an additional 1 minute.
04. Remove from heat. Drain well.
For use in soups: Since pasta will continue to cook in the soup, undercook by 1 - 3 minutes to prevent overcooking.
