Easy Lemon Orzo Pasta Salad Food

EASY LEMON ORZO PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Cook orzo in very salty water until just barely al dente.
• Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water.
• Drain orzo and set aside.
• While the orzo cooks, use a microplane to zest your lemon. Place zest into a large mixing bowl.
• Cut zested lemon in half and squeeze lemon juice into your mixing bowl. Be careful not to let any lemon seeds fall into the bowl!
• Add olive oil, salt, and pepper to bowl and whisk to combine. Set aside.
• Add reserved 1/2 cup pasta water to your lemon juice mixture and whisk to combine. The sauce will look watery, but don't worry - the orzo will soak the liquid up as it cools!
• Add cooked, drained orzo to lemon juice mixture and stir to combine.
• Let orzo cool for 10-15 minutes.
• Add basil and tomatoes to orzo. Stir to combine. Taste and add salt or pepper as necessary.
• Serve immediately or transfer to an airtight container and chill until ready to serve. Top with an extra sprig of basil for garnish if you like.

LEMON ORZO

Steps:

• Simmer 1 cup orzo in a saucepan with 2 1/2 cups water, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 teaspoon dried mint, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon paprika and 2 strips lemon zest, stirring occasionally, until the orzo is tender, 12 to 15 minutes. Let cool slightly. Stir in 2 chopped scallions, the juice of 1 lemon, and salt to taste.