Mediterranean Orzo Salad With Feta Pine Nuts Recipes

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.

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.