Orzo Pasta Salad

[gazza1960]

It was about time I started to use this light small pasta again for salad lunches as its delicate size makes it suitable for Judes lunch boxes.

Cypriot ingredients go nicely with it and todays selection was
very tasty,again its all choice on what salads you prefer.

INGREDIENTS

200g Orzo Pasta
Halloumi Cheese (optional)
Crumbled Feta Cheese is also a Tasty (Optional)
1/2 Red Pepper chopped Small
1/2 Green Pepper Chopped Small
1 Red Chilli Chopped Small
1/2 Red Onion Chopped Small
4 Sun Dried Totatoes Chopped Small
1/2 Large Ripe Avocado Flesh Cubed
4 Small Tomatoes Halved
1/2 Cucumber Skinned and Pipped and Chopped Small
Handfull of Kalamata Olives.
1/2 Large Eggplant Chopped
Fresh Parsley Chopped fine
Fresh Rocket Leaves
Good quality Olive Oil
Spray Olive Oil
salt and pepper



Boil a large Pot of salted water and cook the Orzo Pasta for 10 to 12 mins
which in my experience is just past Al Dente but we prefer it a tad softer.

Let the Pasta cool and wash in cold water and shake dry then add a glug of Olive Oil to prevent grains sticking together.



Set aside....................



Heat a frying pan and spray with cooking oil and fry off the Chopped Eggplant,this veg is reknowned for sucking up oils so go easy with the cooking oil,just keep the pieces moving in the pan to cook and colour them nicely,3 to 5 minutes is ample or the veg will break up.

Once cooked remove from pan and set aside to cool down.



Prep all your chosen Salad items and add the Cooled Eggplant pieces,and Grains of Orzo Pasta,then season well to taste.

Bring together with your finger tips so as not to break up the contents to much.



Plate up and add a fresh Tzatziki Salad on the side and Rocket Leaves.





Present it in a bowl and Sprinkle with fresh Parsley,additional Pan Fried Halloumi makes for a tasty Lunch.



The quantities allow for a large container full left over for The Mrs /Mr.

Enjoy

Gazza

[gazza1960]

[Deb P]

Where do you buy your Orzo pasta from Gazza, I couldn't find it at any of the usual suspects supermarkets last time I looked?

[Jayb]

I've never had Orzo pasta, looks good and the recipe yummy. Hope they stock it around here.

[grannyjanny]

It's OH favourite pasta. I get it from Tesco, Sainsburys, Waitrose & I think  looked at Asda & they had it. Booths do it but it's twice the price as at the other SM. He had to have it after watching Nigellisima. I can't do pictures of recipes but after watching Nigella I started doing one of her recipes. It's sausage balls instead
of meat balls. I use venison sausage, skin & chop the sausage into 5 pieces & roll into balls. Fry an onion & some garlic in a little oil, add the sausage balls & fry until lightly browned, add 1 tin chopped tomatoes, 1/2 tin water & lots of oregano. Simmer until the sauce thickens. Cook the orzo & serve. Nice with any pasta but OH prefers orzo. I like Holme Farm venison sausages & burgers, really tasty & the burgers are 90% meat so don't shrink. The sausages make lovely scotch eggs made with bantam eggs.

[gazza1960]

I used to buy it from an Italian Deli Nr us but when it closed down I harrassed Waitrose and they sourced it for me so I buy it from them now.
Tesco and Sainsburys dont stock it around here..!!!!!!!!!!

To be honest we only eat it cold with salad normally,but there is a tasty Fish and chorizo jobby I like but Jude cant stand, as anything Chorizo isnt on her ""like" list.....    always fun to stand in the kitchen picking the pieces of Chorizo out....(not).....

""just read your reply Grannyjanny,shame on the tesco and sainsbury nr me then huh  !!!!!!!!!"""

Gazza

[gazza1960]

Yum your scotch egg recipe sounds tasty,maybe I should use the butchers sausages you mentioned in this recipe I enjoy...............

[artichoke]

I bought orzo to tease my husband with as it looks so like rice and he is always telling me how much he dislikes pasta.....he spotted it straight away.