Spring Orzo Salad With Arugula Asparagus Pine Nuts Recipes

ORZO AND ARUGULA SALAD

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook orzo in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until cooked through but firm to the bite, about 12 minutes. Drain.
• Combine orzo, green onions, corn, cranberries, red bell pepper, almonds, basil, arugula, Parmesan cheese, salt, and ground black pepper in a large bowl; set aside.
• Whisk together balsamic vinegar, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, garlic, sugar, basil, canola oil, olive oil, salt, and ground black pepper to taste. Drizzle over orzo salad and toss to coat.

ARUGULA SALAD WITH WHITE TRUFFLE OIL, MARCONA ALMONDS AND SHAVED PARMESAN

Steps:

• Whisk together the lemon juice, mustard and some salt and pepper in a large bowl; slowly whisk in the olive oil.
• Add the arugula, almonds and raisins and toss gently to coat. Transfer to a serving platter. Drizzle with the truffle oil, scatter the Parmesan on top and serve.

ASPARAGUS, TOMATO AND PINE NUT SALAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl combine the asparagus, tomatoes and pine nuts. In a small bowl blend together the garlic, vinegar, Dijon mustard and olive oil with a fork or whisk. Pour the dressing over the vegetables, season with salt and pepper and toss to coat.

RICOTTA, ARUGULA AND GRAPE PIZZA WITH PINE NUTS AND LEMON ZEST

Steps:

• For the dough: In a small bowl, combine the yeast with the sugar and 3/4 cup warm water. Let sit for 10 minutes until it begins to foam.
• In a large bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, whole-wheat flour and salt and make a well in the center. Add the yeast mixture and olive oil. Using a fork, incorporate the wet ingredients with the dry ingredients until a dough forms. On a lightly floured surface, continue to work and then knead the dough until it is smooth and elastic, about 8 minutes.
• Lightly coat a clean bowl with additional olive oil and add the dough, turning once to coat the dough in the oil. Cover and set in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
• Heat a grill pan over medium-high heat and preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Punch down the dough and divide it into 2 pieces, using 1 piece for the pizza. Wrap the remaining dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate or freeze for another pizza.
• For the pizza: Stretch the dough into a 12-inch circle or oval that will fit on the grill pan. Add the dough to the hot grill pan and cook until stiff and bubbles start to form, 1 to 2 minutes. Flip and cook on the other side until grill marks form and the crust is completely cooked through, 1 to 2 more minutes.
• Transfer the crust to a baking sheet and spread with the ricotta. Bake until the ricotta warms through and melts slightly, about 6 minutes. Top the warm pizza with the arugula, grapes, pine nuts and lemon zest. Serve immediately.

ORZO SALAD

Steps:

• Pour the broth into a heavy large saucepan. Cover the pan and bring the broth to a boil over high heat. Stir in the orzo. Cover partially and cook until the orzo is tender but still firm to the bite, stirring frequently, about 7 minutes. Drain the orzo through a strainer. Transfer the orzo to a large wide bowl and toss until the orzo cools slightly. Set aside to cool completely.
• Toss the orzo with the beans, tomatoes, onion, basil, mint, and enough vinaigrette to coat. Season the salad, to taste, with salt and pepper, and serve at room temperature.
• Mix the vinegar, lemon juice, honey, salt, and pepper in a blender. With the machine running, gradually blend in the oil. Season the vinaigrette, to taste, with more salt and pepper, if desired.
• Yield: 1 3/4 cups

GRILLED ASPARAGUS SALAD

Steps:

• Preheat a grill for low heat. Combine the lemon juice and olive oil on a plate. Place asparagus on the plate, and roll around to coat.
• Grill asparagus for about 5 minutes, turning at least once, and brushing with the olive oil mixture. Remove from the grill, and place back onto the plate with the oil.
• In a large bowl, combine the spinach, Parmesan cheese, and slivered almonds. Cut asparagus into bite-size pieces, and add to the salad along with the lemon juice and oil from the plate. Toss to blend, then serve.

SPINACH AND ORZO SALAD

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add orzo and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain and rinse with cold water. Transfer to a large bowl and stir in spinach, feta, onion, pine nuts, basil and white pepper. Toss with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Refrigerate and serve cold.

ELEGANT ORZO WITH WILTED SPINACH AND PINE NUTS

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes. (Firm or slightly undercooked orzo works best for this dish.) Drain, transfer to a mixing bowl, and set aside.
• Heat olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium high heat, stirring to blend. Stir in garlic, basil, and red pepper flakes, and reduce heat to medium. Stir in pine nuts and cook until lightly browned. Add spinach, cover, and cook on low heat for 5 minutes, or until spinach is wilted.
• Toss spinach mixture with orzo pasta. Portion onto serving plates with a drizzle of balsamic vinegar and a sprinkling of crumbled feta cheese and chopped tomatoes. Allow guests to adjust seasoning with salt, as needed. Enjoy!