While it looks like rice, orzo, risoni or "kritharaki" in Greek, (meaning little barley) is a form of pasta in the shape of large grains of rice. Here Greek cook and author Maria Benardis shares a fresh and easy summer salad using kritharaki.
Pasta has its origins in Asia and then it spread to Europe including Greece. Greece has many pasta based dishes and risoni is one of the many varieties widely used in Greece.
In Greek cookery it is often added to soups, baked dishes cooked in a “youvetsi” (clay pot), or braised dishes.
Traditionally you will not see kritharaki in salads; however this is how I enjoy this pasta in the summer months.
I sometimes use kritharaki instead of rice in my “gemista” (stuffed vegetables).