This was a total “necessity is the mother of invention” moment. I had a house full of people needing to be fed and, thanks to the Great Fraud Alert of 2013, I had no cash for a run to the grocery store. I was missing at least one ingredient to make all my trusted side dishes, so I had to inventory the fridge, raid the pantry, and come up with something good. I will eat just about anything with feta cheese on top, and this gave me a great opportunity to eat the good balsamic vinegar I tend to hoard.
Greek Orzo Pasta Salad
1 lb orzo
6 oz feta
1 red pepper
1 C cherry tomato
1 C cubed cooked chicked
1 C broccoli
1/2 C olive oil
3 T good balsamic vinegar
1/2 tsp celery salt
pinch of salt
Boil the pasta until al dente and drain. Toss with the cheese and vegetables. In a separate bowl combine the oil, vinegar, and salts and whisk to combine. Toss the pasta in the sauce.
This makes enough to feed a crowd, so scale down for dinner time. Or you could just serve this as a meal on a night when you want something light. I’ll be sure and remember this next July when I’m desperate for something to eat that won’t heat up the house, or me.
This looks good – I'll try it, thanks!