Cooking with risoni

While it might look like large-grained rice, risoni is an Italian pasta variety often used in soups, stews and braises.

Also known as 'orzo', risoni (which translates to 'large rice') is frequently, and tragically, overlooked when stocking up on pasta, with photos famously showing supermarket pasta shelves stripped of all but risoni during the crazed stockpiling period of early 2020.

Orzo has many delicious applications beyond traditional minestrone and, cooked to a toothsome al dente, makes a versatile addition to your pasta arsenal.

Some ideas to get you started:

• Soak dried porcini mushrooms in boiling water, then combine the strained steeping liquid and rehydrated mushrooms with semi-cooked risoni, porcini powder, thyme, pepper, butter and parmesan. Top with panko breadcrumbs and more parmesan and bake until liquid has been fully absorbed

• Stir cooked risoni into a rich cherry tomato sauce with meatballs, top with grated pecorino romano and pangratatto

• Replace macaroni for a delicious 'risoni and cheese' barbecue side dish

• Combine diced tomatoes and cucumber, sliced olives, basil, risoni and quality extra virgin olive oil to make a vibrant pasta salad

• Stuff capsicums with a mix of risoni, herbs and semi-dried tomatoes, and bake until capsicums are soft

• Replace rice with risoni in a seafood-packed paella, flavoured with saffron, paprika and sherry vinegar

• Make a lemony chicken risotto with risoni instead of rice

• Bake cauliflower, béchamel and risoni together into a gratin

• For Youvetsi - a comforting, one pot Greek stew - add risoni to well seasoned, tender lamb pieces slowly cooked in an olive oil, onion and tomato sauce and bake for 10 minutes (make sure that there is enough liquid for the risoni to absorb – add water if necessary)

Risoni's diminutive size and quick cooking time makes it easy to incorporate into countless dishes, adding texture and flavour without adding too much bulk.

I Due Pastori's risoni is made from 100% durum wheat, and is authentically air dried, ensuring its nutritional value remains in tact and making it easy to achieve that perfect al dente texture.

Buy I Due Pastori Risoni from our online store for delivery to anywhere in Australia.