Day 10: pasta in rice form

I have very little to babble on about today in terms of new flavours and experiences - it’s Monday and I am not filled with much enthusiasm. However, if I think back to this dish from Saturday, I am filled with the comfort it promised to offer. Pasta, in some form or other, is one of life’s greatest comforts to me; whether that be a pasta Bolognese, carbonara, alle vongole or, simply, plain spaghetti with butter and parmesan - the latter being a particular childhood favourite. One-pot-wonders, as they are so appropriately named, are a big favourite of mine to cook and eat, and one to contain pasta and meatballs - gets the nod of approval from me. So, on Friday night when I was looking for inspiration, in it’s simple form, I stumbled across Nigella’s Meatballs with Orzo in the At My Table book and just knew it would deliver flavour, satisfaction, ease and comfort; everything I was in search for.

Nigella’s Meatballs with Orzo

And it really is as simple and straight forward as the name suggests - offering maximum pleasure for minimum effort - with the most challenging aspect perhaps arising if you suffer from a slight obsessive compulsive disorder and torture yourself for longer than necessary in preparing the meatballs to be as uniform is size and shape as possible. However, I have to admit - even that was welcomingly satisfying and therapeutic.

I have eaten orzo at a restaurant, but I had never cooked it. I like it’s delicate texture. It puts me in mind of a rice-like pasta, or maybe a pasta-like rice, and I definitely forget to chew it as much as one should. For the meatballs, I used pork mince, which did make them look a bit anaemic, but could be avoided in future with a little gravy browning, or even lightly frying first.

Flavour Musings

Think non-stodgy risotto, slightly runnier, full of flavour - with herbal essences brought in from the oregano and red vermouth. Served with a scattering of fresh oregano, lashing of parmesan and even more carbohydrates with Nigella’s Chilli Cheese Garlic Bread (minus the chili here). A side-salad did feature too.