Orzo with Chicken Drumsticks & Mushrooms

Orzo with Chicken Drumstick & Mushroom

Flavorful, moist, and fulfilling, this awesome pasta dish is packed with delicious goodness of mixed mushrooms and tender chicken drumsticks. An epitome of comfort food, approved by my soon-to-be-21mo toddler. I think my hubby likes it better if I'm using chicken tenders or any type of boneless chicken. Haha!

Recipe adapted from here.

Ingredients:
(Serves 2 adults & 1 toddler)

Grapeseed oil
1 medium red onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 cups mixed mushrooms (fresh shiitake, white oyster, gray oyster), coarsely chopped
3 chicken drumsticks, with fat & skin trimmed off
1/2 cup orzo pasta
1 cup reserved pasta water
Freshly grounded black pepper

How to:

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the orzo and cook according to package directions until al dente. When the orzo is ready, reserve 1 cup of the pasta water. Drain the orzo and set aside.

2. In a large frying pan, heat up grapeseed oil over medium heat. Add the chicken drumsticks and cook until they are nicely browned. Remove from the pan and set aside.

3. Add more grapeseed oil to the pan over medium heat. Add onions and garlic. Stir fry until fragrant for about 5 minutes. Add mushrooms and cook, stirring, until softened, for about 10 minutes. Add splashes of reserved pasta water so that the mushrooms won't dry up.

4. Add the drumsticks and give everything in the pan a few good stirs for about 5 minutes. Add the rest of the pasta water and orzo pasta. Cover to cook over medium-low heat until the drumsticks are cooked through and most of the liquid has evaporated, for about 30 minutes.

5. Add a dash of freshly grounded black pepper. Stir to combine and heat through. Serve hot.