Toasted Orzo Salad Recipes

TOASTED ORZO WITH OLIVES AND LEMON

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add orzo; cook, stirring, until golden, 5 to 7 minutes. Add 4 cups water and lemon zest, and season with salt and pepper; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium; cover, and simmer until orzo is al dente and liquid is absorbed, 10 to 15 minutes (if orzo is cooked but liquid remains, cook uncovered to evaporate).
• Remove from heat. Stir in olives, parsley, remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil, and lemon juice.

ORZO WITH ROASTED VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Toss the eggplant, bell peppers, onion, and garlic with the olive oil, salt, and pepper on a large sheet pan. Roast for 40 minutes, until browned, turning once with a spatula.
• Meanwhile, cook the orzo in boiling salted water for 7 to 9 minutes, until tender. Drain and transfer to a large serving bowl. Add the roasted vegetables to the pasta, scraping all the liquid and seasonings from the roasting pan into the pasta bowl.
• For the dressing, combine the lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper and pour on the pasta and vegetables. Let cool to room temperature, then add the scallions, pignolis, feta, and basil. Check the seasonings, and serve at room temperature.

ORZO SALAD WITH ROASTED CARROTS AND DILL

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees with a rack in lower shelf. Cut carrots diagonally into 2-inch pieces. On a rimmed baking sheet, toss carrots and garlic with 2 tablespoons oil and a pinch of salt. Roast until carrots are tender and browned, about 15 minutes. Transfer sheet to a wire rack to cool. Squeeze garlic cloves from skins; mince to form a coarse paste. Set aside.
• Bring a large saucepan of water to a boil; add salt. Stir in orzo; cook until it is al dente according to package instructions, about 7 minutes. Drain; while still hot, transfer orzo to a large bowl, and toss with remaining 2 tablespoons oil. Let cool slightly, and add roasted carrots.
• Meanwhile, in a small bowl, mix together lemon zest, lemon juice, scallions, and roasted garlic. Add dill, and pour mixture over orzo mixture. Stir to combine; season with salt and pepper. Serve, or store, covered with plastic wrap, in refrigerator up to 1 day; bring to room temperature before serving.

ITALIAN ORZO SALAD

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, bring broth to a boil; add pasta. Return to a boil. Cook, uncovered, until pasta is tender, 10-12 minutes. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, whisk the oil, vinegar, lemon juice, honey, salt and pepper., In a large bowl, combine the tomatoes, cucumber, basil, onions and spinach. Drain pasta; add to tomato mixture. Drizzle with dressing; toss to coat. Chill until serving., Just before serving, stir in cheese and pine nuts.

ROASTED CORN AND ORZO SALAD

Steps:

• Prepare the vinaigrette by mixing the red wine vinegar, mustard, shallots, and olive oil in a medium bowl.
• Husk and remove kernels from cobs of corn. Then sprinkle with the olive oil and use salt and pepper to season to taste. Spread onto a baking sheet and roast in oven at 400 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes until the corn is tender.
• Prepare the vegetables by dicing the bell pepper, slicing the green onions, halving the tomatoes and chopping the marjoram.
• Make the Orzo by following the directions on its box.
• Toss the vinaigrette, corn, veggies and Orzo. Crumble the feta cheese on top and serve.

EASY MEDITERRANEAN ORZO SALAD

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook orzo in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until tender yet firm to the bite, about 11 minutes. Drain well.
• Toss orzo with lemon-infused olive oil. Add olives, artichoke hearts, chickpeas, roasted red peppers, pine nuts, and ricotta salata. Toss to combine. Refrigerate to chill and allow flavors to build.

ORZO SALAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F with rack in middle.
• Roast pine nuts in a rimmed sheet pan until golden, about 8 minutes.
• Cook orzo in a 6- to 8-quart pot of boiling salted water until tender, then drain well in a colander.
• Meanwhile, whisk together lemon juice, oil, garlic, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a large bowl.
• Add hot orzo to dressing and toss. Let orzo come to room temperature, stirring occasionally.
• Add pine nuts, peppers, mozzarella, arugula, and radicchio and toss well.
• Season salad with salt, pepper, and additional lemon juice, if desired.