Orzo Salad With Cucumber Tomato Basil And Feta Recipes

ORZO WITH FETA, CUCUMBER AND TOMATO

Steps:

• Place orzo pasta, chicken broth, water, and half the chopped red bell pepper into a saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer until orzo are tender and liquid has been absorbed, about 10 minutes. Drain and rinse. Allow to cool.
• Place orzo into a large salad bowl with remaining red bell pepper and 2 tablespoons olive oil; toss to coat. Mix in cucumbers, feta cheese, roma tomatoes, red onion, Kalamata olives, lemon juice, white wine vinegar, and cumin; toss salad well. Drizzle 2 more tablespoons olive oil over top of salad. Refrigerate 1 hour, tossing once or twice; season to taste with salt and black pepper before serving.

ORZO AND TOMATO SALAD WITH FETA CHEESE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook orzo for 8 to 10 minutes, or until al dente; drain, and rinse with cold water.
• When orzo is cool, transfer to a medium bowl and mix in olives, feta cheese, parsley, dill, and tomato. In a small bowl, whisk together oil and lemon juice. Pour over pasta, and mix well. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Chill before serving.

ORZO SALAD WITH PEPPERS AND FETA

Steps:

• Cook orzo in a large pot of salted boiling water according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1/4 cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta, pressing out excess liquid. Spread out on a baking sheet to cool.
• Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat oil over medium. Add onion, bell peppers and thyme, and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 10 minutes. Stir in garlic until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add tomato and cook, stirring occasionally, until broken down and juices release, about 8 minutes.
• Add the reserved pasta water and stir to scrape up any browned bits at the bottom of the skillet. Transfer vegetable mixture to a large bowl to cool slightly to lukewarm, about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally to speed up the cooling process. Discard thyme sprig.
• Add cooled orzo, lemon juice, basil and cheese. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Mix well, then transfer to a large serving bowl or platter. Garnish with more basil.

ORZO / TOMATO SALAD WITH FETA AND OLIVES

Steps:

• Cook orzo according to package for al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water.
• Once orzo has cooled, in serving bowl mix orzo, olives, feta, parsley, dill, and tomato.
• In small bowl, whisk together oil and lemon juice. Mix into salad.
• Salt and pepper to taste. Refrigerate and chill before serving.
• If you use dried dill, be sure to use plenty.
• Serves: 6 as a side dish.
• Also great as a main dish for lunch.

MACRINA'S ORZO SALAD WITH CUCUMBER, BELL PEPPER, BASIL AND FETA

Steps:

• SALAD.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
• Spread the walnuts on a rimmed baking sheet and toast on the center rack of the oven for about 10 minutes, or until golden brown.
• Let cool, then coarsely chop and set aside.
• Peel and core the cucumber and cut it into 1/2-inch cubes.
• Core the red and yellow peppers and cut them into 1/2-inch-square pieces.
• Set aside.
• Fill a large saucepan two-thirds full of water.
• Add a pinch of salt and bring to a boil.
• Drop in the pasta and simmer for 3 to 5 minutes, or until tender.
• Remove the pan from the heat and drain the pasta in a colander, then cool the pasta by running cold tap water over the colander for a few minutes.
• Shake the colander to remove excess water and transfer the cooled pasta to a medium bowl.
• Toss with the olive oil to keep the pasta from sticking together.
• Add the toasted walnuts, cucumbers, peppers, olives, scallions, basil, parsley and feta.
• Drizzle in the Lemon Vinaigrette and toss well.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Cover and store in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
• LEMON VINAIGRETTE yield: 1 1/4 cups.
• Combine all the ingredients except the olive oil in a medium bowl.
• Mix well with a whisk.
• Add the oil in a slow stream, whisking as you pour.
• Continue whisking until the dressing has emulsified, then cover and store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

CHICKPEA, FETA AND ORZO SALAD

Steps:

• Cook pasta as directed on package, omitting salt and oil. Drain and rinse with cold water; drain well.
• Meanwhile, in medium bowl, stir lemon juice and oil with wire whisk. Stir in cucumber, onion, thyme, 1/4 teaspoon of the salt and the pepper.
• In large bowl, gently toss tomato and chickpeas; stir in pasta, remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and the cucumber mixture. Add cheese; toss gently.