Cheesy Baked Orzo Pasta with Tbsp Onion

Serves 6 in about 50 minutes. The stove brings chicken stock and mozzarella cheese together.

Ingredients

• 1 cup orzo uncooked
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tbsp butter
• 1 small sweet onion finely diced
• Pinch salt
• Pinch pepper
• 2 cloves garlic pressed or finely minced
• 3 tbsp flour
• 1 ¾ cups chicken stock
• ½ cup heavy cream or half and half
• 2 cups parmesan cheese grated or shredded, and divided
• 1 cup mozzarella cheese shredded
• 1 tbsp green onion chopped, for garnish

Method

1. Simmer the orzo in salted water as the package says, usually 9 minutes, until al dente. Drain.
2. While pasta water is heating up you can begin the sauce.
3. Warm a frying pan to medium heat.
4. Stir in olive oil and butter.
5. Stir in the onion and stir.
6. Stir in salt & pepper.
7. Simmer until tender and translucent, while stirring now and then.
8. Mix in the garlic.
9. Beat in the flour and cook for a couple of minutes, while stirring the whole time. This will make a paste.
10. Very slowly at first, start pouring in some of the chicken stock, while whisking constantly. Gradually add the entire 2 cups. This helps prevent lumps from forming. With a flat whisk helps a lot!
11. Increase heat to Medium High, while still whisking constantly. Don't let it stick to the bottom! Mixture will thicken as it gets hotter and starts to simmer.
12. Simmer until it gets about as thick as a loose gravy (it won't be really thick).
13. Beat in the half and half.
14. Turn off the burner and move the pan off of the heat.
15. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Remember, the parmesan you'll be adding is a bit salty, so keep that in mind!
16. Mix in 1 cup of the parmesan cheese.
17. Tip in the cooked & drained orzo into the sauce and stir until incorporated.
18. Move to a sprayed 8” x 8” baking dish.
19. Stir the remaining 1/2 cup of parmesan and the 1 cup of mozzarella cheese together and sprinkle over the orzo mixture. Cover the entire surface.
20. Bake, uncovered, in a 375 degree oven for 30 minutes, or until browned and bubbly.
21. Garnish with chopped green onion.

More pasta ideas are in the pasta collection.