Orzo is the Italian pasta shaped like small grains of rice.
The word orzo means “barley” in Italian, a reference to the pasta’s resemblance to barley grains. Despite its rice-like appearance, orzo is made from wheat semolina and water, like many other dried pastas. It is therefore not a rice product and is not gluten-free.
Orzo is commonly used in soups, salads, pilafs and baked dishes. It cooks relatively quickly because the pieces are small, and its shape allows it to absorb broth or dressing while retaining a pasta texture. In Italian cooking, it may also be called risoni, meaning “big rice,” especially in some regions and markets.
Its grain shape can cause confusion with risotto. Risotto is a rice dish, whereas orzo can be prepared in a similar creamy style but remains pasta.