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The Ultimate Easy, Fluffy, Homemade Rice Pilaf with Orzo

A white bowl filled with fluffy rice pilaf, featuring toasted grains and topped generously with chopped fresh parsley.
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You need this simple, one-pot rice pilaf recipe featuring toasted orzo, aromatic vegetables, and chicken broth for perfectly fluffy grains every time. It is a reliable side dish for any weeknight dinner.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1/2 cup orzo pasta
  • 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 1/2 cups long-grain white rice (Basmati recommended)
  • 2 1/4 cups chicken broth (or vegetable broth)
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Heat the olive oil and butter in a medium saucepan or Dutch oven over medium heat.
  2. Add the orzo pasta and cook, stirring frequently, until the orzo turns light golden brown, about 3 to 5 minutes. Watch carefully to prevent burning.
  3. Add the chopped onion to the pan and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
  4. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
  5. Add the long-grain rice to the pan. Stir and toast the rice with the other ingredients for 2 minutes. This step helps keep the rice fluffy.
  6. Pour in the chicken broth, salt, and pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil.
  7. Once boiling, immediately reduce the heat to the lowest setting, cover the pan tightly with a lid, and simmer for 15 minutes without lifting the lid.
  8. Remove the pan from the heat and let it stand, covered, for an additional 10 minutes. Do not lift the lid during this resting time.
  9. Fluff the rice gently with a fork. Stir in the fresh parsley before serving.

Notes

  • For the best results, rinse your rice under cold water until the water runs clear before toasting it in the pan.
  • You can substitute vegetable broth for chicken broth to make this dish vegetarian.
  • To add texture, toast 1/4 cup of slivered almonds with the orzo until golden, then stir them in with the parsley at the end.
  • This pilaf pairs well with baked chicken breasts or roasted pork tenderloin.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://devourdish.com/easy-fluffy-rice-pilaf-recipe/