Orzo

In this delicious dish from Asterix & Obelix, the orzo is toasted before it's cooked, giving the pasta a nice nutty flavor.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Active time: 20 min Start to finish: 40 min

For this osso buco we've substituted lamb shanks for the more traditional veal. We've also borrowed from the Greeks, adding avgolemono, a bright-tasting sauce of eggs, lemon juice, and broth.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Orzo, a rice-shaped pasta, is sold at Italian markets and most supermarkets.

This recipe was inspired by Aunt Gladys's beef, from Laurie Colwin (Gourmet, January 1992), and Nathalie Waag's leg of lamb with tomatoes and garlic (Gourmet, September 1986). The best chuck roasts for this recipe come from the supermarket—fancy butcher shops' meat is too lean and often becomes dry when cooked.

Active time: 15 min Start to finish: 25 min

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

This is a delicious, low-maintenance alternative to traditional risotto.

Orzo—rice shaped pasta—is easier to find than Arborio rice (the traditional ingredient in risotto) and makes a delicious risotto-style side dish.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Regular button mushrooms are a nice substitute for the portobellos in this side dish.