ITALIAN ORZO PASTA SALAD

August 9, 2010
italian orzo pasta salad, pasta salad, summer entertaining, summer, Italian cooking

Target has had La Giada’s new line of kitchen tools and selected food items. I am crazy about all of it! I picked up a box of her Orzo Pasta since I have never made orzo before. I used her recipe on the back of the box and it was amazing! I loved how light it was to eat, unlike other pastas, which tend to be very heavy and leave you feeling like a glutton. The texture was also interesting…almost like having long rice grains (i.e. jasmine rice). This Italian orzo pasta salad an easy dish and perfect to make after a long and busy day and also makes a nice side dish for a potluck or gathering! 🙂 Enjoy!

Italian Orzo Pasta Salad

Ingredients

1 pound orzo
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/2 medium red onion
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 pint cherry tomatoes
8 oz. frozen artichoke hearts, thawed and quartered
2 tbsp capers, drained
2 tbsp chopped fresh thyme
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1/4 cup pine nuts

Perpare

1. Bring 4 cups of water to a boil in a large pot and pour in orzo pasta.
2. Cook for 8 minutes stirring occasionally to prevent it from sticking to the bottom of the pan.
3. Drain the orzo and reserve 1 cup of the pasta water.
4. In a large skillet, heat 1/4 cup of olive oil over medium-high heat.
5. Add onion and cook, stirring frequently, until soft, about 5 minutes.
6. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds until aromatic.
7. Add tomatoes, artichoke hearts, capers, pine nuts, and thyme.
8. Cook, stirring occasionally, until tomatoes begin to soften, about 8 to 10 minutes.
9. Add pasta, remaining 1/4 cup olive oil, and parsley.
10. Toss until all the ingredients are coated, adding a little pasta water, if needed, to thin out the sauce.
11. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
12. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Italian Orzo Pasta Salad
Serves 6
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Prep Time
10 min
Cook Time
50 min
Prep Time
10 min
Cook Time
50 min
Ingredients
  1. 1 pound orzo
  2. 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
  3. 1/2 medium red onion
  4. 2 garlic cloves, minced
  5. 1 pint cherry tomatoes
  6. 8 oz. frozen artichoke hearts, thawed and quartered
  7. 2 tbsp capers, drained
  8. 2 tbsp chopped fresh thyme
  9. 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
  10. 1/4 cup pine nuts
Instructions
  1. Bring 4 cups of water to a boil in a large pot and pour in orzo pasta.
  2. Cook for 8 minutes stirring occasionally to prevent it from sticking to the bottom of the pan.
  3. Drain the orzo and reserve 1 cup of the pasta water.
  4. In a large skillet, heat 1/4 cup of olive oil over medium-high heat.
  5. Add onion and cook, stirring frequently, until soft, about 5 minutes.
  6. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds until aromatic.
  7. Add tomatoes, artichoke hearts, capers, pine nuts, and thyme.
  8. Cook, stirring occasionally, until tomatoes begin to soften, about 8 to 10 minutes.
  9. Add pasta, remaining 1/4 cup olive oil, and parsley.
  10. Toss until all the ingredients are coated, adding a little pasta water, if needed, to thin out the sauce.
  11. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  12. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Florida Girl Cooks https://floridagirlcooks.com/
italian orzo pasta salad, pasta salad, summer entertaining, summer, Italian cooking

author: Teresa Gonzalez

Teresa is a South Florida native who is a photographer that also has a passion for food. She's a seeker of sunshine, lazy days at the beach, and exquisite food.

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