Orzo Pasta Cooking Time. If you make this in advance, the pasta will slowly absorb all the soup as it cools. Reserve 1 cup pasta water, then drain pasta and set aside.

Stir in orzo, lemon zest and the 1 teaspoon salt. Cook the pasta in the boiling water until 2 minutes shy of al dente; Rice flour, or legumes such as beans or lentils, are sometimes used in place of wheat flour to yield a different taste and texture, or as a.