After indulging in all the rich food from our short vacation recently, it is time to have something fresh, healthy, light spring foods. I made this salad using the leftover orzo from my previous Cheesy Orzo Frittata. Orzo is pasta that is similar to rice in shape, but a little thicker and larger. I like making pasta salads and soup with it. This salad is simple and fresh. I loved the crunchy edamame and tender sweet grape tomatoes. I added some fresh parsley from my garden to it too.
Ingredients:
1 cup orzo
1 cup frozen shelled edamame
1/2 pound medium size shrimps – shelled and deveined
1 pint of grape or cherry tomatoes - halved
1 small bunch fresh parsley - chopped
Marinate for the shrimps:
1/2 tsp salt
Dash of pepper
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp paprika
Dressing:
1 clove garlic – finely chopped
Juice of ½ orange
Juice of a lemon
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1/4 cup olive oil
1 tsp honey
Salt and pepper, to taste
1. In a medium saucepan, bring 5 cups of water to boil. Add in some salt. Blanch edamame for 1 minute. Remove and set it aside. In the same water cook the orzo pasta according to the package directions. Drain.
2. Dry the shrimps with paper towel and marinate it for 15 minutes. Grill the shrimps until pink and just cooked. This will take about 50 seconds on one side and about 40 seconds on the other side. Remove and set it aside.
3. Mix all the dressing ingredients. In a large mixing bowl, combined orzo, tomatoes, edamame, shrimps and parsley. Add in the dressing and toss everything together.
4. Taste the pasta, add more lemon juice, salt or pepper if necessary. Set the pasta salad aside to marinate for at least 20 minutes (so that the pasta absorbed all the flavors) before serving it at room temperature or cold.
Note: If you can’t find orzo pasta, you can substitute is with any type of small pasta.
Don't forget to enter the Aprons Giveaway if you have not done so. Closing date is on the 17th May 2011.
Due to Blogger's problem for the past two days, some of the comments from this post and the Giveaway post went missing. For those who commented at the Giveaway and it was not there I hope you can do it again. So sorry about that.
What a great looking pasta salad! Yummy!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful salad and sound healthy .
ReplyDeletei remember seeing orzo here and quite expensive. I think this will goes well with my couscous too! very bright and pleasant looking!
ReplyDeleteOh Gosh! Who can resists these.......
ReplyDeleteGert, this looks really simple and delicious! I love the whole combo. Hope you're having a lovely day.
ReplyDeleteCheers, Kristy
what a wonderful recipe, I love this ingredeints list.
ReplyDeleteLooks really refreshing!!
ReplyDeleteI love edamame. Incorporating this with Pasta really makes this a wholesome complete dish.
ReplyDeleteWow, shrimps! and edamame! both are my favorite! This would be a great dish for a light lunch!
ReplyDeleteI really like the addition of edaname! pairing it with prawns is a great idea too.. and orzo! YUM!
ReplyDeleteYou know when I first encounter with Orzo, I thought it was some sort of rice, hahaha! Looks like a fantastic & light salad! And eating a second serving will be no guilt involved. ;)
ReplyDeleteI love the presentation of the salads in cups! Great idea!
ReplyDelete