Date: Fri, 15 Aug 1997 21:55:51 -0700
From: wide-eyed wanderer (marya@netcom.com)
My friend Nancy ("I cook with wine... and sometimes I put it in the
food") taught me an easy, luscious Mushroom Onion Orzo. Sorry I don't
have exact directions (she was also teaching me to cook "with" wine
:)), but it doesn't seem to need them too badly.
Mushroom Onion Orzo
1 lb Orzo
1 lrg purple onion, chopped
6-8 cloves of garlic, minced (or less if you don't wanna :))
About 1-1.5 lbs of your favorite mushrooms, half chopped, half chunked
1/4 c. each chopped fresh basil & oregano
1/2 c. chopped fresh parsley
Salt & pepper to taste
Red wine (She uses Pinot Noir.. I usually have some leftover cheap Burgundy)
Cook & drain the Orzo according to package directions.
"Saute" the onion and garlic in some wine.
Add the chopped mushrooms and enough wine to cover them.
Simmer until the mushrooms are tender and giving up their juices.
(Add wine during simmering if needed to keep mushrooms covered.)
Gently stir in basil, parsley & oregano
(I dunno why gently, but it's very dramatic.. all that lush green)
Taste. Add salt & pepper if the spirit moves you.
Put the cooked orzo in the bottom of a deep casserole dish
(I actually use a ceramic souffle pan)
Spread the "chunked" mushrooms over the orzo.
Pour the wine/mushroom/onion sauce over (and through) the mushrooms.
Cover & bake at 350 for 30 mins.
Use a big spoon and dig through the layers to serve.
My husband once had me add a few shakes of dried red pepper. I couldn't
even taste it though all the garlic, but he proclaimed it much improved.
He's always "fixing" my homemade recipes.
I've tried slicing the second half of the mushrooms, but the sauce
doesn't seem to get down into the orzo as well.
kwvegan vegan