Fresh pasta can turn a simple pot of soup into the kind of meal people remember. A bowl of chicken broth with tender little noodles feels comforting. A tomato soup with hand-cut ribbons feels generous. Even a quick vegetable soup tastes more cared for when the pasta has that soft, springy bite you only get from homemade dough.

Orzo may look like rice, but it cooks like pasta and turns a simple pot of soup into something silky, hearty, and spoonable. It slips easily into brothy chicken soups, tomato-rich stews, lemony bowls, and spice-laced vegetarian meals.