Chipotle Chili Pepper Orzo

Ingredients

1. 1-5tsp Chipotle Chilli Pepper (as much as desired for preferred spiciness, really)
2. 1tsp paprika (optional)
3. 1/2 tsp fresh ground black pepper
4. 1/4-1/2tsp salt
5. Chicken Broth (amount varies, at least 1-2 cups)
6. 1/3-1/2 cup orzo
7. 1/2 white onion, chopped
8. 4 cloves of minced garlic (appx. 4-5 tsp)
9. 1/4 green bell pepper
10. 1/4 red bell pepper
11. 2Tbsp olive oil
12. 1tsp butter (optional)

Instructions

1. Chop onion and bell peppers into medium sized pieces.
2. Mince 2 cloves of garlic
3. Set pan on stove and add olive oil to it
4. Add onions to pan and cook on low heat for 5-10 minutes until onions are lightly browned (not burned though)
5. Add 1 clove of minced garlic to pan, cook for another 30 seconds
6. Add bell peppers to pan.
7. Add paprika, pepper, chili pepper, and salt to pan. Stir
8. Cook on medium heat for another 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent burning
9. Get chicken broth accessible. Add Orzo to pan, stir, and then add in just barely enough chicken broth to cover orzo.
10. Turn heat to medium-high or high. You want the orzo to brown while cooking.
11. Add in butter, stir.
12. Whenever too much broth has evaporated and orzo starts to brown, add more broth and stir. Be sure to give some time for orzo to brown though. Repeat this until the orzo is pleasantly firm and slightly crunchy.
13. Add remaining garlic. Stir and let cook for 30 seconds.

Notes

Serves 2 (or one really hungry person).

It is very important that you let the orzo brown, almost, but not quite, burning. This adds more flavor to the dish and gives the orzo a really nice texture.

Don’t stir the pot too often while cooking the orzo. Do so just often enough to avoid burning. The orzo should slowly change to a darker brown color.

Adding in barely enough broth to cover the orzo while letting it evaporate off quickly helps prevent the orzo from becoming super gummy.