Hey there, fellow food lovers! If you’re anything like me, you absolutely love pizza, but you also hate food waste. So, when I had some leftover pizza toppings, sauce, and cheese, I decided to turn them into something super fun and tasty pizza orzo! This dish is packed with all the pizza flavors you love, combined with the creamy goodness of orzo pasta. It’s a game-changer, and I promise you, it’s even better than it sounds! Let me show you how to make this mouth-watering pizza-inspired meal.
Method
Prepare the Vegetables for the Sauce
Begin by preparing the vegetables for the sauce. In a large pan, sauté the onion, carrot, celery, peppers, mushrooms, sundried tomatoes, and garlic over medium heat until they begin to soften. This will take about 5-7 minutes. The vegetables should be tender and slightly caramelized to bring out their natural sweetness.
Blitz the Vegetables into a Sauce
Once the vegetables are cooked down, transfer them to a food processor or blender. Blitz everything together until the mixture forms a smooth sauce. If the mixture is too thick, you can add a little water to help blend it smoothly. This vegetable sauce is packed with flavor and is going to form the base of your pizza orzo.
Cook the Orzo
While the vegetables are cooking, bring a separate saucepan of water to a boil. Add the orzo and cook it according to the package instructions, usually about 9-11 minutes. Stir occasionally to ensure the orzo doesn’t stick. Once the orzo is cooked, drain it and set it aside. You want the orzo to be al dente so it holds up well in the final dish.
Add the Protein
Now it’s time to incorporate your protein. In a separate pan, add your leftover meats chicken, prosciutto, chorizo, and salami. Cook them for about 2-3 minutes, just enough to warm them through and get a bit of a crispy edge on the chorizo. This adds an extra layer of flavor and texture to the dish.
Combine Orzo, Meats, and Sauce
Once your meats are ready, toss the cooked orzo into the pan with the protein. Pour the vegetable sauce over the mixture and stir everything together thoroughly. This is where all the pizza flavors start to come together. Make sure the orzo is evenly coated with the sauce.
Add the Cheeses
Now comes the cheesy goodness! Stir in the grated cheddar and mozzarella, allowing them to melt and combine with the sauce. This will create a rich, creamy texture throughout the dish. Continue stirring until the cheeses are fully melted and the mixture becomes smooth and cohesive.
Top with Torn Mozzarella and Chorizo
Next, tear the reduced-fat mozzarella into chunks and scatter it over the top of the orzo. Add the remaining chorizo slices for an extra layer of flavor and texture. The mozzarella will melt beautifully, giving the dish a gooey, cheesy top layer.
Grill the Pizza Orzo
Place the pan under a preheated hot grill (or broiler) for 3-5 minutes. Keep a close eye on it to make sure the cheese on top gets bubbly and golden, but doesn’t burn. This quick grilling step is what gives the dish that perfect pizza-like finish.
Finish with Fresh Basil and Serve
Once the cheese is melted and golden, remove the dish from under the grill. Top with fresh basil leaves for a burst of freshness and color. Now, your pizza orzo is ready to be served! Enjoy this delicious, comforting meal with your family or friends.
Necessary Tools
- 1 large pan
- 1 separate saucepan for boiling orzo
- Food processor or blender for blitzing veggies
- Grater for cheese
- Grill or broiler
Pizza Orzo A Delicious Twist on Pizza!
Cuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy4
servings10
minutes25
minutes35
minutesIngredients
1 onion
1 carrot
1 celery stalk
1/2 red pepper
1/2 yellow pepper
A few mushrooms
A few sundried and cherry tomatoes
Garlic, basil, oregano, salt, pepper, and sugar
1 tin of tomatoes
1 tbsp tomato purée
For the Other Ingredients
300g dry orzo
Leftover meats (I used 100g cooked chicken, 4 slices of prosciutto, 5 slices of chorizo, and 1 slice of salami)
90g grated cheddar and mozzarella
50g reduced-fat mozzarella, torn
Directions
- Start by cooking the vegetables. In a pan, sauté the onion, carrot, celery, peppers, mushrooms, sundried tomatoes, and garlic until softened.
- Blitz the cooked vegetables in a food processor or blender to make the sauce.
- Meanwhile, cook the orzo in a separate saucepan as per package instructions.
- Add your leftover meats to a pan, then toss in the cooked orzo and vegetable sauce. Stir well to combine.
- Mix in the grated cheddar and mozzarella cheese, allowing them to melt into the pasta mixture.
- Top the mixture with the torn mozzarella and remaining chorizo slices.
- Pop the dish under a hot grill for a few minutes until bubbly and golden.
- Remove from the grill, sprinkle with fresh basil, and serve!
Notes
- When grilling the pizza orzo, make sure to watch it closely! The mozzarella on top can quickly go from perfectly melty to a little too crispy, so keep an eye on it under the grill.
Serving Suggestions
This pizza orzo is perfect on its own, but it pairs wonderfully with a light green salad or a side of garlic bread. You can even serve it with a drizzle of balsamic glaze for an extra flavor boost!
Fun Fact
Did you know that orzo is technically a type of pasta, not a grain? Its name comes from the Italian word for barley, but it’s made from durum wheat. It’s the perfect pasta to soak up all that delicious pizza sauce!
Conclusion
This pizza orzo is such a fun and tasty way to use up those pizza leftovers. It’s like getting the best of both worlds pizza flavors and pasta comfort! Plus, it’s super easy to make, and you’ll feel good knowing you’ve kept food waste to a minimum. Enjoy this flavorful, cheesy dish, and don’t forget to share it with friends and family!
