Mediterranean gastronomy is known for its fresh ingredients that seem to coincide with its gorgeous landscape. Simplicity and health are essential in Mediterranean cuisine, and cooking generally incorporates vegetables, grains, oils, and seafood. Sustainability is also of utmost importance, and thoughts of health and freshness often lead to one kind of dish: salads. One of the most iconic dishes of Mediterranean cuisine is salad in many shapes and forms. And this is where orzo can become a star. You can increasingly find more and more recipes online which have this item as a main ingredient, and a clear reason for this is that orzo is both versatile and healthy. This pasta that looks like rice is made of wheat and is easy to cook. The best orzo recipes are usually comprised of light salads which are ideal meal options during the summertime heat. Light should never be a synonym of tasteless, and these two options of salads with orzo may delight your family during warm spring nights. Be sure to take into account, however, that orzo is a pasta; so you'll want to cook in advance and set it aside to cool before mixing it with the rest of the ingredients .If you become a fan of orzo, you can also cook it in bigger amounts and store it in an air-tight container in the refrigerator to use up to three or four days later.
Orzo Vegetable Salad
Ingredients
- 2 cups orzo pasta
- 3 cups chopped tomatoes
- 2 cups chopped artichoke hearts
- 2 cups chopped spinach
- 1 cup chopped green onions
- 1 cup feta cheese
Dressing
- Olive oil
- Lemon juice
- Lemon zest
- Salt
- Pepper
Preparation
- Boil three cups of water in a medium or large pot.
- Add two cups of orzo, and cook for about 15 minutes.
- Drain, set aside, and let cool.
- Chop tomatoes, artichoke hearts, spinach, and green onions.
- Once orzo is cooled, mix combined ingredients in large bowl.
- Add preferred amount of feta cheese to the mix.
- Make dressing by mixing olive oil, lemon juice, pinch of salt, and freshly ground pepper.
- Add lemon zest if desired.
Orzo and Spinach Salad
Ingredients
- 1 cup orzo pasta
- 4 cups chopped spinach
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes
- 2 cans chickpeas/garbanzo beans
- 1 cup chopped parsley
- 2 chopped green onions
Dressing
- Lemon juice
- Olive oil
- Salt
- Pepper
- Garlic powder
Preparation
- Boil chicken broth in a medium or large pot.
- Add orzo, set heat to low, and simmer for ten minutes.
- Toss warm orzo in a big bowl with the chopped spinach.
- Add rinsed garbanzo beans or chickpeas, and mix in with parsley and chopped green onions.
- Add olive oil, lemon juice, and seasoning, then adjust ratio to preferred taste.
Even though the second salad is served a little bit warmer, they are both great options for a typical spring or summer day. As with any salad, they can both be served as a main entrée or as a side dish as well. One of the best things about using orzo pasta in a salad is that you can be especially creative and come up with your own version of a Mediterranean salad using fresh vegetables and some grains.
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