This Orzo With Shiitake And Garlic Scapes is the dish I make for special occasions like birthdays or anniversaries. It looks and tastes like a gourmet risotto but it only takes 20 minutes to prepare and cook. I use shiitake mushrooms which are the most common mushroom found in Asian cuisine. Their meaty texture and earthy, smoky flavor really complements the subtle flavor of the garlic scapes.
Orzo is a type of pasta which actually looks like rice so that’s why this dish is “risotto-style”. Risotto without the rice! Using orzo instead of rice makes this dish so much easier to prepare because cooking with rice is a slower process and it’s easier to make mistakes and end up with a risotto which is gloopy rather than creamy.
To make Orzo With Shiitake And Garlic Scapes, you will need the following ingredients:
Bring the chicken stock to a boil in a saucepan. Reduce heat and simmer to keep warm.
Heat 3 tbsp of olive oil in a large pan or skillet and gently fry the onion until it has softened. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Stir the orzo into the onions. Slowly add the stock to the pan, one ladle full at a time, stirring continuously, until the stock has fully absorbed. Continue adding ladles of stock until the orzo is cooked to al dente.
Meanwhile, in a separate pan, heat 2 tbsp of olive oil and fry the mushrooms and garlic scapes until they are a golden brown color.
Add 2 tbsp of the butter and season with salt and freshly ground pepper. When the butter has turned a golden brown color, remove from heat and set to one side.
Once the orzo is cooked, mix in the remaining 2 tbsp of butter, parmesan cheese and heavy cream until fully combined.
Mix in the baby spinach. Continue cooking until the spinach starts to wilt. Adjust the seasoning if necessary.
Place the mushroom and garlic scape pan on a hot burner briefly to re-warm.
Spoon the orzo into a bowl and top with a spoonful of the mushrooms and scapes.
This Orzo With Shiitake And Garlic Scapes recipe is a really creamy take on risotto. Try it out for your next special occasion and come back to leave a review.
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