This traditional Italian dish of pasta with a simple sauce of cheese and pepper gets a fun twist with the use of orzo!
Prep Time10 minutesmins
Cook Time15 minutesmins
Total Time25 minutesmins
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Italian
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Servings: 2people
Calories: 369kcal
Author: Whitney Reist
Ingredients
½cupof whole wheat dried orzo pastaor ¼ pound of any dried pasta
Kosher salt
¾cupfreshly grated Parmesan cheese
1 ½tablespoonsbutterdiced into small cubes
1teaspoonfreshly cracked black pepper
1cupof reserved pasta water to use as needed
Instructions
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Season the boiling water with a heaping teaspoon of salt. Place the orzo in the boiling water and cook according to package directions or until al dente. Before draining the pasta, ladle out 1 cup of the pasta water into a small bowl to reserve for later use.
Drain the pasta and return it back to the pot you cooked it in. Place the pot back on the burner with the heat turned OFF. Add the grated cheese, butter, black pepper, and ½ cup of the reserved pasta water. Stir to combine. Add more pasta water as needed to reach a creamy texture. Serve immediately.