Minted Orzo Salad With Grapefruit Food

WARM ORZO SALAD WITH MINT AND FETA

Steps:

• In large pot of boiling, salted water, cook orzo per package directions. When orzo is al dente, remove from heat and add frozen peas to cooking water. Let sit for 1 minute.
• Drain and transfer to a serving bowl. Stir in remaining ingredients. Serve warm.

AVOCADO AND GRAPEFRUIT SALAD WITH MINT-DILL VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Place 1 grapefruit segment, mint leaves, dill, vinegar, and oil into a mini electric blender. Pulse a few times to create a vinaigrette.
• Place remaining grapefruit sections into a large bowl. Add avocado and endive. Pour vinaigrette over the salad and toss to coat. Let rest in the refrigerator for 1 hour. Top with jalapeno, black pepper, and hibiscus salt before serving.

MINTED ORZO SALAD WITH GRAPEFRUIT

Steps:

• Combine the grapefruit juice and grated lemon and orange rinds in a large glass or ceramic bowl. Whisk in the olive oil. Add the salt and pepper. Pour half of the liquid into a separate bowl and refrigerate.
• Add the oregano, jalapeno and shrimp to the remaining vinaigrette. Toss to combine and refrigerate for 2 hours. Grill the shrimp over hot coals until cooked through, about 2 to 3 minutes per side. Set aside to cool. Peel, devein and cut into bite-size pieces.
• Pour the broth into a small saucepan. Simmer over medium-low heat. Combine the olive oil and leek in a nonstick skillet. Cook over medium-low heat until the leek softens, about 5 minutes. Add the orzo and stir to combine. Ladle in 1/2 cup of the broth and stir. Increase the heat to medium and continue adding the broth, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring constantly, until the orzo is tender, about 15 minutes. Drain. Rinse under cold running water. Set aside.
• Put the reserved vinaigrette in a salad bowl, add the salad greens and toss. Add shrimp, orzo, coriander and parsley leaves and toss to combine. Season with additional salt and pepper.

MINTED SQUASH-ORZO SALAD

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil over medium heat. Stir in the orzo and cook as the label directs. Drain in a colander and rinse under cold water until cool. Drain, shake off the excess water and transfer to a large bowl.
• Meanwhile, heat 2 tablespoons garlic olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the squash, season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until it begins to brown, about 4 minutes. Remove from the heat and cool to room temperature.
• Add the squash to the bowl with the orzo. Stir in three-quarters of the feta, the mint, the remaining 2 tablespoons garlic olive oil, and salt and pepper to taste. Top with the remaining feta and more mint.

GRAPEFRUIT & FENNEL SALAD WITH MINT VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Cut a thin slice from the top and bottom of the grapefruit; stand grapefruit upright on a cutting board. With a knife, cut off peel and outer membrane from grapefruit. Cut along the membrane of each segment to remove fruit. Arrange fennel, grapefruit and onion on a serving platter., Place mint, vinegar, honey, salt and pepper in a small food processor; cover and process until mint is finely chopped. While processing, gradually add oil in a steady stream. Drizzle over salad.

MINTED POMEGRANATE YOGURT WITH GRAPEFRUIT SALAD

Steps:

• Put the yogurt in a bowl and beat well. Fold in the pomegranate seeds and chopped mint. Sweeten with a little honey or sugar, if using, then chill until ready to serve.
• Peel the grapefruits, cutting off all the pith. Cut between membranes to remove segments, holding the fruit over a bowl to catch the juices.
• Mix the fruit segments with the reserved juices and orange flower water and add a little honey or sugar, if using. Stir gently then decorate with a few pomegranate seeds.
• Decorate the chilled yogurt with a scattering of pomegranate seeds and mint leaves, and serve with grapefruit salad.
• *Variation: You can use a mixture of oranges and blood oranges, intersperesed with thin segments of lemon. Lime segments work well with the grapefruit and mandarins or tangerines could be used too. As the idea is to create a refreshing, scented salad, juicy melons and kiwi fruit would also be ideal.

MINTY ORZO LENTIL AND FETA SALAD

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to boil. Add pasta and cook until al dente, about 8 to 10 minutes; drain. Transfer pasta into a large bowl, and mix in 1 tablespoon olive oil; cover, and refrigerate until cool.
• Place lentils into a small saucepan, cover with water, and bring to a boil. Cover, and simmer over low heat until lentils are tender, about 15 to 20 minutes. Drain and set aside to cool.
• Combine the remaining olive oil, vinegar, and garlic in a small bowl.
• Remove pasta from refrigerator; add lentils, oil mixture, olives, feta cheese, red onion, mint, and dill; stir until thoroughly blended. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.

ORZO SALAD WITH LENTILS AND ZUCCHINI

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the lentils and cook for 9 minutes, then add the orzo and cook until the lentils and orzo are cooked through but not mushy, another 10 to 12 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a large bowl, stir together the oil, lemon juice and pepperoncini. Season with 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper. If using small or medium zucchini, halve them lengthwise, then slice crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick half-moons. (If using large zucchini, quarter them lengthwise first, then slice crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick triangles.) Add to the dressing and stir to combine.
• Drain the lentils and orzo very well, then add to the zucchini, along with the pistachios and scallions. Stir to combine, then season to taste with salt and pepper. Stir in the herbs just before serving. Eat warm or at room temperature. (Salad keeps, refrigerated, for up to 4 days. Bring to room temperature and adjust seasonings before eating.)

BASIL & MINT ORZO SALAD

Steps:

• Pour the broth into a saucepan and bring 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 and transfer to a large wide bowl. Set aside to cool completely.
• Meanwhile, mix the vinegar, lemon juice, honey, salt, pepper and oil in a blender; pour over pasta and mix well.
• Add tomatoes, onion, basil and mint; stir well. Season the salad, to taste, with salt and pepper, and serve at room temperature.

ORZO SALAD WITH VEGETABLES AND HERBS

Steps:

• For Salad:
• Bring large pot of salted water to boil. Add sugar snap peas; cook 1 minute. Using slotted spoon, transfer peas to strainer. Rinse with cold water and drain. Add orzo to same pot. Boil until tender but still firm to bite, about 8 minutes. Drain and cool.
• Place orzo in large bowl. Mix in sugar snap peas, tomatoes, cucumber, green onions, parsley. mint and lemon peel. Season with salt and pepper.
• For Dressing:
• Combine lemon juice, lemon peel and garlic in medium bowl. Gradually whisk in olive oil. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Pour half of dressing over salad; toss to coat. (Can be Made 6 hours ahead. Cover salad and remaining dressing separately and chill. Bring to room temperature before continuing.) Toss salad with enough remaining dressing to coat generously. Season with salt and pepper. Line shallow serving bowl with lettuce. Mount salad in bowl.