Carbonara Orzotto

By OcadoLife
If you’re looking for the perfect midweek meal, food stylist and Good Food Fast author Emily Jonzen’s recipe for Carbonara Orzotto is a winner. This risotto-carbonara mashup is a clever take on two Italian favourites…
Shop for ingredients

Time and servings

Total time
Servings
Cooking time

Ingredients

10 total
  • 130 g of unsmoked diced pancetta
  • 6 salad onions, trimmed, finely sliced
  • 300 g of orzo
  • 1 litre of chicken stock, hot
  • 15 g of dried white breadcrumbs
  • 1 pinch of chilli flakes
  • 75 g of parmesan, finely grated
  • 2 large eggs, beaten
  • 275 g of frozen peas
  • 1 large garlic clove, crushed or grated

Method

7 steps
  1. Step 1

    Fry the pancetta in a large, dry, high-sided pan over a low-medium heat for 3-4 mins, until golden and crisp.

  2. Step 2

    Remove half the pancetta with a slotted spoon; set aside. Add the salad onions, fry for 2 mins, then stir in the garlic and orzo and fry for 1 min more.

  3. Step 3

    Stir in half the stock, bring to the boil, then lower the heat and cook for 8-10 mins, stirring regularly. If it starts to look a little dry, add a splash more stock, but reserve 100ml for later.

  4. Step 4

    Meanwhile, tip the breadcrumbs, chilli and reserved pancetta into a small frying pan. Fry gently for 2 mins, until the breadcrumbs start to turn golden. Remove from the heat.

  5. Step 5

    Mix most of the parmesan into the eggs (reserve a little to serve); season.

  6. Step 6

    Stir the peas into the orzo and cook for 2-3 mins (the orzo should be slightly al dente). Remove from the heat and quickly stir in the egg mixture until creamy and glossy. Add a little of the reserved stock if the mixture looks at all dry; you want the sauce to be a creamy, coating consistency. Season to taste.

  7. Step 7

    Serve scattered with the pancetta crumbs and remaining parmesan.