Orzo Pasta Salad

Orzo is a type of pasta which looks like a long-grain rice, only thicker. Usually, it is served with different kind of grilled vegetables and meat, for children with cheese and cream, and it is little heavy. My idea behind this salad is to use the taste of this pasta in a lighter way. This dish only has around 90 calories per serving without any artificial ingredients, and lemon and honey together usually never go wrong.


Ingredients:-

-- For Salad

• 1 cup Orzo Pasta
  
• 10 Olives, cut in half
  
• 10 Cheery Tomatoes, cut into half
  
• 1 tsp Dried Cranberries
  
• 1 tbsp Olive Oil
  
• 1 tsp Almond, slivered
  
• Fresh Basil Leaves, chopped
  

-- For Vinaigrette

• 1 Lemon
  
• 1 tsp Honey
  
• 4 tbsp Olive Oil
  
• 1/2 tsp Oregano
  
• Salt to taste
  
• Black Pepper to taste
  

Method:-

1. Cook orzo pasta in lightly-salted boiling water for 8-9 minutes or until just al dente. Drain pasta and place in a large bowl. Mix olives, cheery tomatoes, dried cranberries, basil and slivered almonds into cooked orzo pasta with 1 tbsp olive oil.

2. In blender, add lemon juice, honey, olive oil, oregano, salt, and black pepper. This is the Vinaigrette. (You can use any kind of vinegar like balsamic, red wine, etc. instead of lemon juice)

3. Transfer the pasta salad to a serving dish and pour vinaigrette according to your taste.

Enjoy...

This is my entry to AWED :Italiano hosted by Dhivya.