Full question
For the Saffron Orzotto recipe are we using barley or orzotto, which I think is a pasta, looks a bit like rice? And what is a banana shallot?
Our answer
Nigella's Saffron Orzotto (from NIGELLISSIMA) is a dish made with pearl barley that is good as a side dish for grilled or roasted meats or poultry. Orzo is actually the Italian word for barley, hence the title of the recipe. Orzo is a type of pasta that gets its name from its rice or barley shape. Orzo pasta cooks too quickly to be used in this dish, but Nigella has a recipe for Pasta Risotto With Peas And Pancetta, which you may like to try. If you can't get pearl barley then pearled farro could be an alternative for the Saffron Orzotto.
A banana shallot is a variety of the shallot family that gets its name from its longer, slightly curved shape. They are also known as echalion shallots. You can use a large regular shallot as an alternative.
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