Refreshing Summer Orzo Salad

Recipesfull introduces to you: Pasta Salad Recipes. (Refreshing Summer Orzo Salad). This is a wonderfully light salad for those hot summer nights. If you like, it goes well with the addition of either tuna or grilled chicken, and you can vary the amount of feta depending on your taste.

Brief

Prep 20 mins

Cook: 15 mins

Total: 35 mins

Servings: 8

Yield: 8 servings

Refreshing Summer Orzo Salad

Ingredients

4 cups chicken broth

1 (16 ounce) package orzo pasta

1 ½ tablespoons butter

¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil

1 ½ teaspoons minced garlic

½ teaspoon dried basil

½ teaspoon dried thyme

¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

1 cup pine nuts

1 cup pitted kalamata olives

1 (2 ounce) jar capers

with liquid

12 ounces basil-flavored feta cheese

1 (10 ounce) bag fresh spinach leaves

chopped

1 tablespoon lemon juice

Peanut Noodles

Salad

Directions

Step 1

Bring the chicken broth to a boil over high heat. Add the orzo pasta and cook until al dente 8 to 10 minutes. Drain well then pour the orzo into a bowl and toss with the butter to keep it from sticking; set aside.

Step 2

While the pasta is cooking heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Stir in the garlic and cook until the garlic softens and the aroma mellows about 2 minutes. Stir in the basil thyme red pepper flakes and pine nuts. Cook and stir until the pine nuts have toasted to a light golden brown.

Step 3

Stir the pine nut mixture into the orzo along with the olives capers feta cheese spinach and lemon juice. Serve either warm or cold but it's better the next day.

Nutritional Information

Refreshing Summer Orzo Salad

Servings Per Recipe:8

Calories: 553.5

% Daily Value *

Protein: 19.3g 39%

Carbohydrates: 49.6g 16%

Dietary Fiber: 3.8g 15%

Sugars: 4.8g

Fat: 32.3g 50%

Saturated Fat: 10.8g 54%

Cholesterol: 43.6mg 15%

Vitamin A Iu: 3650.4IU 73%

Niacin Equivalents: 6.8mg 53%

Vitamin B6: 0.3mg 18%

Vitamin C: 11.8mg 20%

Folate: 214.3mcg 54%

Calcium: 272.9mg 27%

Iron: 5mg 28%

Magnesium: 108.8mg 39%

Potassium: 419.5mg 12%

Sodium: 1004.1mg 40%

Thiamin: 0.2mg 23%

Calories From Fat: 290.5

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

**Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-)Nutrition information is provided for reference only. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.