Yellow Pepper Orzo Gratin Recipes

ORZO GRATIN

Steps:

• Bring water to a boil in a large Dutch oven. Add orzo and garlic, and return to a boil; cook 10 minutes. Drain, rinse in cold water, and drain again. Remove garlic; peel and crush garlic. Set orzo aside.
• Combine garlic and whipping cream in a large bowl; beat with a wire whisk until blended. Add orzo, chicken broth, 1 cup minced parsley, 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese, and salt and pepper to taste; stir well.
• Place mixture in a greased 2-quart baking dish. Combine breadcrumbs, remaining 1/4 cup parsley, and remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese; stir well. Sprinkle the crumb mixture over the orzo mixture. Dot with butter. Bake at 325° for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until golden brown.

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.

YELLOW PEPPER ORZO GRATIN

Steps:

• In a 4-quart saucepan bring 3 quarts salted water to a boil for orzo.
• In a heavy saucepan simmer bell peppers in wine and broth with salt, covered, until tender, about 15 minutes. Remove lid and simmer until liquid is evaporated. Cool pepper mixture and in a food processor or blender purée with egg. Transfer pepper mixture to a large bowl.
• Preheat oven to 350° F. and lightly oil an 8-inch square baking pan with the oil.
• Cook orzo in boiling salted water until al dente and drain in a colander. Rinse orzo under cold water and drain well. Stir orzo into pepper mixture with scallions, chives, 1 tablespoon Parmesan, and salt and pepper to taste. Spread orzo in baking pan, smoothing top, and sprinkle with remaining tablespoon Parmesan. Gratin may be prepared up to this point 8 hours ahead and chilled, covered.
• Bake gratin in middle of oven 25 to 30 minutes, or until set and top is pale golden.