Asparagus Orzo Salad Food

GRILLED STEAK AND ASPARAGUS WITH ORZO

Steps:

• Combine 2 tablespoons olive oil, the garlic and thyme in a small bowl; brush on the steak, then season with salt and pepper. Toss the asparagus with the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
• Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add the orzo and cook as the label directs; drain and return to the pot. Add the half-and-half and cook over medium heat, stirring, until slightly thickened, about 1 minute. Remove from the heat; stir in the gruyere. Season with salt and pepper.
• Meanwhile, heat a grill pan over medium heat and brush with olive oil. Grill the steak 3 to 4 minutes per side for medium rare; transfer to a plate. Wipe off the grill pan. Grill the asparagus, turning occasionally, until marked, 4 minutes; drizzle with the lemon juice. Slice the steak and serve with the asparagus and orzo. Top the orzo with the scallions.

LEMONY ORZO WITH ASPARAGUS AND GARLIC BREAD CRUMBS

Steps:

• Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil. Add the orzo and cook until al dente according to package directions. Two minutes before the orzo is done, add the asparagus. Drain the orzo and asparagus. Wipe out and reserve the pot.
• While the orzo and asparagus cook, make the dressing: In a large bowl, stir together 3 tablespoons oil and the lemon zest and juice; season to taste with salt and pepper. Add the drained orzo and asparagus and toss to coat. Set aside while you toast the bread crumbs.
• In the reserved pot, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons oil over medium. Add the panko and cook, stirring, until golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat, then stir in the garlic and season with salt and pepper.
• Stir the Parmesan and herbs into the orzo, taste, then season with salt, pepper and additional lemon juice, if desired. Top with the toasted bread crumbs and more Parmesan if you like. Serve warm or at room temperature.

ORZO SALAD

Steps:

• Pour the broth into a heavy large saucepan. Cover the pan and bring the broth to a boil over high heat. Stir in the orzo. Cover partially and cook until the orzo is tender but still firm to the bite, stirring frequently, about 7 minutes. Drain the orzo through a strainer. Transfer the orzo to a large wide bowl and toss until the orzo cools slightly. Set aside to cool completely.
• Toss the orzo with the beans, tomatoes, onion, basil, mint, and enough vinaigrette to coat. Season the salad, to taste, with salt and pepper, and serve at room temperature.
• Mix the vinegar, lemon juice, honey, salt, and pepper in a blender. With the machine running, gradually blend in the oil. Season the vinaigrette, to taste, with more salt and pepper, if desired.
• Yield: 1 3/4 cups

ORZO AND SHRIMP SALAD WITH ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Peel shrimp, reserving the shells. In a skillet over medium heat, cook the garlic and shrimp in 2 tablespoons of olive oil, stirring frequently to keep the garlic from browning. When shrimp are cooked through, remove from heat, cool and cut into 1/2-inch pieces.
• Bring water to a boil in a Dutch oven over high heat. Add shrimp shells, boil for 5 minutes, then strain out shells and discard. Stir in the orzo and cook for 5 minutes. Stir in the asparagus pieces and continue cooking until the pasta is al dente, about 4 minutes. Drain into a mesh sieve, and rinse in cold water.
• Toss pasta and asparagus with 2 tablespoons of olive oil, shrimp, and green onions until evenly coated. In a separate bowl, whisk the vinegar, lemon juice, mustard, and basil until incorporated. Pour over pasta mixture and toss well; season to taste with salt and pepper. Chill for 2 hours.

CREAMY ORZO WITH ASPARAGUS AND PARMESAN

Steps:

• Bring a large sauce pan of water (filled about halfway) to a boil over medium heat. Cook the orzo until tender, about 10 minutes. After the orzo has been cooking for about 5 minutes, add the asparagus to the same pot (this will allow the orzo and asparagus to cook in the same pot and keep the clean-up to a minimum!). Once the orzo and asaparagus are cooked and tender, drain and return to the pot. Quickly add the parmesan cheese and butter. Stir thoroughly, allowing both the cheese and butter to melt. Slowly add the cream to the mixture, while stirring. Continue to stir and add cream until you reach your desired consistency. Season with salt and pepper. Voila! You have a delicious side dish! Serve immediately.

ORZO WITH ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Heat olive oil and butter over medium heat.
• Add onion, fennel, garlic and saute until very soft.
• Add orzo and 1/2 cup chicken stock.
• Stir as you would risotto until liquid is absorbed.
• You might not use the whole quart of broth.
• Repeat until pasta is almost al dente.
• Add asparagus and simmer until tender.
• Top with parmesan, pepper flake and thyme.

LEMON ORZO SALAD WITH ASPARAGUS AND TOMATOES

Steps:

• Bring 2 large pots of water to boil. Add a big pinch of salt in each.
• To one pot, add asparagus and blanch, about 2 to 3 minutes, depending on the thickness of your asparagus. Place blanched asparagus in a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking and keep them green.
• To the second pot, add the orzo. Cook per package instructions. When tender, drain and place in a large bowl. Add blanched asparagus and tomato halves.
• Mix olive oil, lemon zest, lemon juice, garlic, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Stir into orzo and vegetables. Stir in parsley and grated Parmigiano Reggiano (omit the cheese to make this vegan.)
• This can be served warm, room temperature or cold.

CAESAR ORZO WITH ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, bring broth and water to a boil. Add orzo; cook and stir for 3 minutes. Add asparagus. Cook, uncovered, over medium heat for 6-8 minutes or until orzo and asparagus are tender, stirring frequently; drain. Stir in salad dressing and cheese; toss to coat.

SPRING ORZO SALAD WITH ARUGULA, ASPARAGUS, PINE NUTS

Steps:

• Bring a large pan of salted water to a boil. Add orzo and cook according to package directions. When cooked to al dente, drain and rinse with cold water until cool.
• Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a small frying pan over medium heat. Add asparagus and season with salt and pepper. Cook until bright green and tender but still crisp. Remove from heat.
• In a large bowl, combine the pasta, asparagus, artichoke hearts, arugula, Parmesan, pine nuts, and lemon basil vinaigrette. Stir to coat everything with the dressing.
• Serve immediately.

ORZO SALAD WITH SHRIMP AND LEMON DRESSING

Steps:

• Whisk together oil, zest, juice, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Set aside.
• Prepare orzo according to package directions, omitting salt and fat; drain. Transfer orzo to a bowl, and cool to room temperature, about 10 minutes.
• While orzo cooks, bring a large saucepan of water to a boil over high. Add asparagus and sugar snap peas to boiling water. Cook until bright green and tender-crisp, about 2 minutes. Add English peas, and stir until softened, about 30 seconds. Using a slotted spoon, transfer vegetables to an ice bath, reserving boiling water in saucepan.
• Add shrimp to boiling water. Cook until opaque, about 3 minutes, and then drain. Transfer shrimp to ice bath with vegetables. Let stand until chilled, about 3 minutes; drain.
• Toss together shrimp-vegetable mixture with orzo; drizzle with dressing. Add chives, parsley, and tarragon, and toss to combine. Serve at room temperature or chilled.

MEDITERRANEAN ORZO SALAD

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook orzo in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until tender yet firm to the bite, about 9 minutes. Drain well. Rinse with cold water and drain well again.
• Combine orzo, cherry tomatoes, red onion, cucumber, olives, and Asiago cheese in a large bowl.
• Whisk garlic, olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, salt, and pepper together in a small bowl to make the vinaigrette. Drizzle over the orzo mixture and toss lightly to combine. Add basil and parsley and mix well. Let sit for 20 minutes for flavors to blend, stirring occasionally.

GRILLED JERK SHRIMP ORZO SALAD

Steps:

• Cook orzo according to package directions. Drain and rinse with cold water; drain well. Meanwhile, toss shrimp with jerk seasoning; thread onto metal or soaked wooden skewers. Brush corn with oil., On a covered grill over medium heat, cook corn until tender and lightly browned, 10-12 minutes, turning occasionally; cook asparagus until crisp-tender, 5-7 minutes, turning occasionally. Grill shrimp until they turn pink, 1-2 minutes per side., Cut corn from cob; cut asparagus into 1-in. pieces. Remove shrimp from skewers. In a large bowl, combine orzo, grilled vegetables, shrimp and red pepper. Whisk together dressing ingredients; toss with salad.

PEA AND ASPARAGUS SALAD

Steps:

• Trim asparagus. Thinly slice on a strong bias. Toss with peas, mint, almonds, oil, and vinegar. Season with salt and pepper, and serve, topped with more mint and almonds.