Mediterranean Orzo Salad With Feta Pine Nuts Recipes

MEDITERRANEAN ORZO SALAD

Steps:

• For the dressing: In a jar or bowl, mix together the olive oil, lemon juice, garlic and some salt and pepper until totally combined.
• For the salad: Bring a pot of water to a boil and cook the orzo according to the package directions. Drain and let cool.
• Place the orzo, chickpeas, red and yellow tomatoes, olives, feta, parsley and onions in a large mixing bowl and pour the dressing over the top. Stir to combine and taste; add salt and pepper if needed. Refrigerate at least 1 hour before serving.
• Top with more feta and parsley and serve as a main dish salad or with grilled chicken, fish or burgers!

ORZO, FETA & PINE NUT SALAD

Steps:

• Boil orzo pasta until al dente~7-8 minutes.
• Drain pasta; toss with 3 TB EVOO; spread on cookie sheet to cool.
• Mix red wine vinegar, lemon juice, honey, salt, pepper & EVOO until well blended.
• In bowl, put orzo, feta, basil, craisins & pine nuts.
• Add dressing, tossing well.
• Stir in or spoon over baby arugula.
• Keeps refrigerated for up to 4 days.

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!

LEMONY ORZO SALAD WITH FETA AND PINE NUTS

Steps:

• If pine nuts are not toasted, toast them on a cookie sheet in a 350F oven for 5-10 minutes or until golden brown.
• Boil water in a 6-8 quart pot with optional flavor cubes.
• Add orzo and cook until tender.
• Drain orzo in colander and rinse with cold water.
• Toss orzo in a large bowl with the olive oil, lemon juice, and lemon zest.
• Then toss in the rest of the ingredients.
• Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• You can add more lemon juice if you like it really lemony.
• Chill salad for 3-4 hours before serving.

ORZO WITH SPINACH AND PINE NUTS

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, cook pasta according to package directions. , Meanwhile, in a Dutch oven over medium heat, cook the pine nuts, garlic, basil and pepper flakes in oil and butter just until nuts are lightly browned., Add the spinach, salt and pepper; cook and stir just until spinach is wilted, 4-5 minutes longer. Transfer to a large bowl., Drain pasta. Stir into spinach mixture. Drizzle with vinegar; sprinkle with cheese and tomato.

MEDITERRANEAN ORZO SALAD

Steps:

• Cook the orzo pasta according package instructions (mine took about 8 minutes). Drain and cool briefly.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine the grape tomatoes, green onions, bell peppers, parsley, dill, olives and capers (hold the feta for now). Add the orzo pasta.
• Make the dressing. In a small bowl, combine the lemon juice, lemon zest, extra virgin olive oil, garlic, oregano and a good pinch of kosher salt and black pepper. Whisk to combine.
• Pour the dressing over the salad and toss until well combined and the orzo pasta is well coated with the dressing.
• Top with pieces of creamy feta cheese. Cover and refrigerate for a bit before serving.

ORZO, PINE NUT, AND FETA SALAD

Steps:

• Cook orzo in a 6- to 8-quart pot of boiling salted water until tender, then drain well in a colander.
• Whisk together lemon juice, oil, and salt and pepper to taste in a large bowl, then add hot orzo and toss. Cool orzo, then toss with pine nuts, feta, and scallion greens. Season with salt and pepper.

MEDITERRANEAN ORZO SALAD WITH FETA & PINE NUTS

Steps:

• Cook orzo in large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to bite, stirring occasionally. Drain well in colander - do not rinse. While pasta is cooking, remove zest from lemon with micro-plane being careful not to grate any of the bitter white pith, set aside. Juice lemons. In a large bowl, whisk together 6 tablespoons of the lemon juice and the olive oil. Add HOT, drained orzo to lemon juice/olive oil mixture, mix well. Add salt & freshly ground black pepper. Set aside until cooled to room temperature, stirring often. Meanwhile, toast pine nuts in a dry skillet over low heat until uniformly browned, empty onto a plate or cutting board to cool. Slice green onions, halve cherry tomatoes, pit and quarter olives, crumble feta cheese, and chop basil. When orzo is completely cooled, mix in green onions, cherry tomatoes, olives, feta cheese, pine nuts, basil and lemon zest. Season to taste with reserved 3 or 4 tablespoons lemon juice and additional salt & pepper. Cover and refrigerate until serving time.