2020 Holiday Cooking Special Series, Day 1: Chicken & Orzo Pasta Stir-Fry
Orzo easily ranks high at the top of my list of all-time pasta favorites. This versatile rice-shaped pasta is light, easy to prepare, and can be utilized in a wide range of both hot and cold recipes. I am not a fan of cold pasta, so I always aim to find ways to incorporate different types of pasta into either warm or hot meals.
For this recipe, first cut about 8 pieces of chicken thigh meat into smaller cubes. Although breast meat can be used as a substitute, I strongly recommend thigh meat since it is more flavorful and adds unmatched depth to the overall dish. Place them in a large skillet as shown above with about 1/2 cup of water then season them generously with 1/2 teaspoon each of ground black pepper, paprika, salt, and turmeric. Let the chicken cook through completely under medium heat until all the water has evaporated.
Meanwhile, bring about 4 - 5 cups of water to a boil in a medium-sized pot, season generously with salt and a dash of oil, then pour in the orzo pasta to cook for abut 9 minutes. Set aside about 1 cup of pasta water for use in developing the sauce and pour out the rest once the pasta is fully cooked. In the same skillet containing the cooked chicken, pour in about 3 tablespoons of olive oil and lightly sauté the chicken pieces under medium heat until they turn slightly golden-brown. Thereafter, start building the base sauce by adding a medley of diced vegetables including red onions (1), tomatoes (4 small), cubed carrots (2 large), and julienned bell peppers (1 large red/orange/green). Add the pasta water as needed and allow all ingredients to blend and absorb juices from the sautéed chicken for about 5 - 7 minutes before adding 1/2 cup of frozen peas into the mix. Be sure to include additional seasoning for the vegetable blend - 1/2 teaspoon each of ground black pepper, turmeric, paprika, oregano, and salt to taste.
Once the sauce is well developed and thick, pour in the cooked orzo pasta and stir thoroughly to blend well with all ingredients. Sprinkle some dry parsley flakes generously for extra flavor and serve hot immediately as a delicious main dinner dish. Enjoy! 😍😋💖
