Orzo Pasta Salad with Grilled Confetti Vegetables and Feta

Name: Orzo Pasta Salad with Grilled Confetti Vegetables and Feta
Yield: 6 servings
Ingredients: 3 cups orzo, or bow tie pasta; 2 tsp olive oil; 1/2 cup olive oil; 1 tsp dried oregano; 3 tbsp lemon juice; 1 tbsp grated lemon zest; 2 tsp salt; 1/2 tsp black pepper; 2 small zucchinis, sliced lengthwise into 1/2-in. thick strips; 2 yellow sweet peppers, quartered; 3 large ears of corn, husked and wrapped in tinfoil; 1 cup cherry tomatoes, sliced in half lengthwise; 1 1/2 cups crumbled feta; 1/2 cup toasted pine nuts; 1/2 cup basil leaves, torn

Makes6 servings

Photo: Flickr

This vegetable-packed orzo pasta salad is vibrant, healthy, and delicious. Make it tonight!

Ingredients

3 cups orzo, or bow tie pasta
2 tsp olive oil

Instructions

In a large pot, bring about 4 cups of salted water to a boil. Add orzo pasta and cook according to package directions, about 6-8 minutes, until al dente (firm to the bite). Drain and rinse under cold water. Let orzo sit in colander to drain well. Transfer to a large bowl and toss with about 2 tsp (5 ml) olive oil to prevent sticking. Set aside.
In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, oregano, lemon juice, lemon peel, salt and pepper until well combined. Set aside.
Preheat a barbeque or grill to medium-high heat. Brush zucchini strips and yellow pepper with a little olive oil. Place these, along with corn, on barbeque and grill for 4-5 minutes on each side until grill marks appear and vegetables are tender. Remove and set aside on a baking tray to cool. Once cool, cut the kernels off of the corn husks (there should be about 2 cups) and chop the zucchini and yellow peppers into 1/2-inch (1 cm) pieces.
To the orzo pasta, add the zucchini, yellow pepper, corn, cherry tomatoes, feta and pine nuts. Drizzle over lemon vinaigrette and toss gently to combine. Garnish with torn basil leaves.
In a hurry? Chop zucchini and yellow pepper into 1/2-inch dice. Place in large bowl along with cherry tomatoes and 1 cup corn (canned). Toss with 1 tbsp olive oil and season the vegetables with salt and pepper. Spread evenly onto a baking sheet. Bake until lightly browned, about 10 to 15 minutes. Set aside and let cool to room temperature and then toss with orzo salad as above.