Orzo Salad Recipe
by Kristen Swensson Sturt
Healthy & Delicious: Greek Orzo Salad
As it gets warmer, barbeques are popping up across the country. Get yourself invited to more summer shindigs by bringing this tasty alternative to fatty carby pasta salad. Reduce fat by completely eliminating mayonnaise and carbs by replacing half the pasta with fiber-loaded broccoli slaw(optional). Deliver Mediterranean flair and flavor with fresh lemon, oregano, feta, kalamata olives, cucumber, plum tomatoes, red onions and artichokes.
*Makes about 12 servings of 3/4 cup each
Adapted from Taste of Home and All Recipes.Orzo Salad Recipe- Ingredients:5 cups cooked orzo
1 large cucumber, peeled, seeded, and diced
3 plum tomatoes, seeded and diced
1 medium red onion, small diced
20 pitted kalamata olives, cut into quarters
1 14-ounce can artichoke hearts (give or take), cut into eighths
1/4 to 1/3 cup fresh parsley, chopped
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 large lemon, halved
1/2 tablespoon kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
3 or 4 ounces reduced fat feta cheese, crumbled
Procedure:To a large mixing bowl, add orzo, cucumber, tomatoes, red onion, olives, artichoke hearts, and parsley. Stir to combine.
Pour olive oil into orzo mixture. Juice the entire lemon into the same bowl. Add salt and grind pepper to taste. Stir gently to combine. Add feta. Stir again. Serve cold or at room temperature.
*Here I'd like to tell you about my favorite diet program that uses a lot of the healthy lower GI foods: Isabel de los Rios' 'The Diet Solution Program'.
The Diet Solution Program favours a long term health orientated approach to fat loss, but not offering anyone a quick fix to their weight troubles. It has loads of valuable data and research to support its approach. I personally investigated the program thoroughly and my mum has been using it for a while now. I have to say she got some great results.
The nutrition plan is one of the healthiest we have seen, a strong core focus on vegetables, fruits, vitamin dense foods, lean proteins, select dairy produce and a clear approach to not expecting one diet to work for all body types. So give it a try and let me know how you’re doing.*Original Orzo Salad Recipe