It’s easy to forget that pasta comes in all shapes and sizes. After all, some pasta shapes—like spaghetti and linguine and macaroni and penne—tend to get more attention than other noodles.
Take orzo, for example. The small, rice-shaped pasta is a classic, but it seems to ebb and flow in and out of fashion with foodies. But small pasta, like orzo and pastina, seems to be back on top at the moment. As we were looking for fun things to make with the little noodles, we ran across a star who seems to be a forever orzo fan, Pierce Brosnan.
In the Celebrity Pasta Lovers’ Cookbook, the James Bondactor and The Misfits shared that he’s a big fan of vegetable orzo primavera. In a Reddit Ask Me Anything, Brosnan also shared that he’s all about noodle dishes. “I love pasta. I love my wife’s cooking. My wife is a remarkable cook. And just a remarkable girl,” he wrote.
That sweet sentiment makes us love Brosnan even more than we already did, but we were still very curious about this orzo dish. We did a little digging to find out everything you need to know to make Brosnan’s vegetable orzo primavera at home.
Related: Alan Alda’s Favorite Pasta Recipe is Simple and Delicious
What Makes Pierce Brosnan’s Favorite Pasta So Special?
Brosnan’s primavera is a twist on the classic Italian dish, swapping angel hair for orzo. It’s packed with vegetables, which makes it perfect for spring and a delicious way to work extra vitamins into your dinner.
Related: Tony Danza’s Favorite Italian Sandwich Is Surprisingly Easy to Make
Another thing we love about this recipe? It’s incredibly easy to make. Just roast the veggies on a baking sheet and combine them with the orzo for a quick supper. If you’re a fan of meal prepping, you can roast the vegetables ahead of time, then cook the pasta and assemble the dish when it’s dinner time.
It’s also easy to make this recipe your own. You can add extra protein, like grilled chicken, steak or cannellini beans and toss in any roasted vegetables you like.
Related: The Comforting Italian Dish Sopranos Star Michael Imperioli Swears By
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How to Make Pierce Brosnan’s Favorite Pasta Dish
This pasta dish starts with the vegetables. Chop carrots, zucchini, yellow summer squash, bell peppers and an onion into thin strips. Toss the veggies with olive oil, dried herbs and salt and pepper, then arrange in a single layer on a foil-lined baking sheet.
Bake the vegetables at 450°, giving them a good stir after 10 minutes. Pull them out after about 20 minutes or when the carrots are tender.
While the vegetables roast, cook the orzo according to package directions. Once it’s cooked, drain the pasta, reserving about a cup of the starchy pasta water. In a large bowl, toss the pasta with the roasted vegetables, then add sliced cherry tomatoes and some of the reserved cooking water. Season to taste with more salt and pepper as needed.
Finally, scoop the pasta into bowls and serve with plenty of Parmesan cheese. Pro tip: The flavors blend together nicely as the dish sits, so you can look forward to any leftovers the next day.
Related: How to Make Oatmeal 10x Better, According to Kevin Bacon
