Orzo is a type of pasta which is made in the shape of a grain of rice. Orzo pasta is often about rice-sized, as well. Despite its rice shape, orzo is not made out of rice but of hard wheat semolina. This pasta is very versatile, and it can be used in a range of recipes, with many people consuming orzo in soups.

The word orzo is Italian for “barley,” from which orzo was originally made. You can also see orzo called kritharaki, manestra, rosa marina, reiskornpasta, or pasta gallo pion.