orzo

American

[awr-zoh] / ˈɔr zoʊ /

noun

pasta in the form of small ricelike grains.

Etymology

Origin of orzo

< Italian: literally, barley < Latin hordeum; cf. gorse, orgeat

Explanation

Orzo is a small pasta shaped like a large grain of rice or pearled barley. While orzo was invented in Italy, this type of pasta is called risoni, or "large rice," in that country, a type of pastina, "tiny pasta." If you order orzo in Italy, you'll get barley, which is the literal translation of the Italian word. But in English, orzo refers only to the pasta, which resembles barley and rice, but is neither: It's made from wheat flour. However, this little grain-shaped pasta is often substituted for rice or barley in recipes. Because it is so small, it cooks quickly, and when cooked, it has a firm, chewy texture. This versatile little pasta may be added to soups, salads, or stuffings.

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

But sometimes that’s a little bit too heavy, so I’ll get the orzo salad, which is really good.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 13, 2026

Serve with warmed pita bread or a rice or orzo pilaf.

From Washington Times • Sep. 27, 2023

Then, instead of cooking the orzo in water, I use broth, which infuses the pasta with flavor as the liquid reduces to a silky sauce, spiked with lemon zest for brightness.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 30, 2023

Serve nutty orzo with tender meatballs, bitter greens and spoonfuls of herby yogurt.

From New York Times • Jun. 6, 2023

“It’s very nice, Harry. I tasted it. No poison, I promise. Chicken with orzo and a touch of cilantro. Malcolm made it. I just found it in the fridge.”

From "Confessions of a Murder Suspect" by James Patterson

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023