What we commonly call rice pilaf likely originated somewhere in the vicinity of Macedonia in the mid-4th century. (There are references to palau (a translation of pilaf) in histories of Alexander the Great.) Over the centuries, many of the cuisines of the region have adopted pilaf-like dishes and made them their own. In each food culture, the basics remain the same - rice cooked with a seasoned broth. Trader Joe's Rice Orzo Pilaf Mix puts our subtle spin on this classic dish. Our Rice Orzo Pilaf Mix is made with American-grown rice and oven-toasted orzo pasta crafted from durum semolina wheat. Orzo has a shape similar to a grain of rice, with a distinctly chewy texture that's a terrific counterpart to the fluffy rice. The rice and pasta are seasoned with chicken stock and spices, so all you need to do is add water & butter and simmer for about 20 minutes to achieve pilafian perfection of historical proportions in the privacy of your kitchen. Serve it with chicken, fish, pork or a burger, fresh off the grill.