Creamy Baked Orzo with Goat Cheese

By ebdonahue

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups orzo
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon chopped thyme
• 6 ounces fresh goat cheese, at room temperature
• 3 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 tablespoon chopped flat-leaf parsley
• Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
• 2 tablespoons grated pecorino cheese

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 375°. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the orzo until al dente. Drain.

Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat the olive oil. Add the onion and cook over moderately high heat until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the thyme and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the goat cheese, cream cheese and milk and cook over moderately low heat, stirring, until the cheeses are melted, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat.

Add the cooked orzo and the parsley to the skillet and season with salt and pepper. Scrape the pasta into an 8-inch baking dish and sprinkle the pecorino on top. Bake for about 25 minutes, until lightly browned.