DIRY ORZO & CAULIFLOWER

What I blog looks so nice and uniform then I post it and it moves around and does it's own thing.  Oh well.

DIRTY RICE WITH ORZO & CAULIFLOWER

INGREDIENTS:
1/2 Head cauliflower.
1 white onion
1 cup of Orzo
5 cups water, broth, or mixed
2 bay leaves
2 Garlic
2 Tablespoon olive oil.
2 Teaspoons of each
Cinnamon, Oregano, Thyme, Basil, Pepper, Paprika, Cumin.
1 Packet of Mc Cormick Low sodium Taco seasoning.

METHOD OF PREPARATION


First chop up the Cauliflower into equal bite size piece.  













Uncooked Orzo   (it's a pasta)

In a pot I added some left over soup broth and added some extra water to equal 4 cups and add two bay leaves.  Bring this to a boil.
No I have not lost my mind by taking lot's of pictures of boiling broth. :)    I want to show you how you can use the starch as a timer.

Just added the Orzo.   This is on high.  At any time you feel that the water is going to boil over turn it down to medium low or even low.  And then turn it back up to medium high.  Stir occasionally.

Oh no it going crazy.  No not really.  But as you can see all the white foam is starch.

Here we go. See the little foam raft, this is the starch.  This is telling you that the pasta is almost close to being done.










Now take notice how the starch raft on the bottom is a lot thicker and less white.  All pasta starch rafts will look different, depending on the type of pasta.   ORZO when done with have very soft texture. 

Here is what cooked and dry Orzo look like side by side.   You can see how the cooked Orzo on the right is plump and a lot bigger.    It should have a very soft texture, almost like biting into a gummy bear.
Below have a colander ready to drain off the water to let cool, before you pour it down the drain.





















Dice up the onion

Cut up the Garlic

Add two table spoons of olive oil to a pan with onions, garlic and spices.  Turn stove top to medium high and saute.

 Cooked and mixed with spices.














                        
                      
Add 1/2 of cup of water or broth to keep food from burning the food.  Medium high.

 Add the Cauliflower and Taco seasoning.

 Mix in and add the rest of the 1/2 cup of liquid.  All we are doing now is letting it steam. So put the lid on and let it steam finished.   Stir occasionally.  Add another 1/2 cup of water if you feel the water has evaporated.   When the cauliflower is done steaming it should have a nice nutty and soft texture, not mushy.  

Grate a little cheese on top and dinner is served.

DIG IN.