“I fell in love with the Mediterranean philosophy of good wine, good food and family” Stephen White
Mediterranean Orzo Salad
During the cold weather months all you want to do is sit on the couch, order takeout and get in bed as early as possible. Right? Not eat light and delicious orzo salads. With spring only five days away, lighter dishes will be making their way to the forefront of the kitchen. Down here in Florida the heat keeps the heavier fair from regular rotation, but on the rainy, borderline chilly days, I find myself craving something comforting and decadent.
Thankfully all of my favorite foods from New York: Pizza, Chinese and Bagels are NOT very delicious down here, so they are semi-easy to keep at arms length. When I am on Long Island though all bets are off! You bet your ass I am going to partake all of the in the culinary delights New York has to offer… from pork buns near times square with my little brother to heros from the Italian deli and Chinese delivery with my mom. Cory and I are total foodies and really will try anything once. All it has to be delicious! We crave greek food at least once a month. So we were excited when a friend asked us to join him and his wife down on South Beach for Turkish food.
The name of the Turkish restaurant is called Babylon, and every dish we tried from the hummus and zucchini cakes to the grilled octopus were delicious. All light, airy, somewhat healthy and chock full of flavor. My zucchini cakes were sweet and my tzatziki tangy. My salad had just the right balance. It was a delicious meal that left me full and satisfied; however, The biggest difference between this indulgent dinner and one spent at Houston’s Steakhouse is that I left feeling energized and not bloated. Almost the exact opposite of what an indulgent dinner should feel like. I absolutely love mediterranean cuisine. Greek is usually the type of meal I jump on as I said before, but Turkish was just as delicious. So if you find yourself on Miami beach, stop by Babylon, enjoy the belly dancers and the yummy, scrummy, food!
If you are craving something like it at home this Mediterranean should be your spring-summer ‘go to’. This orzo salad can be served as a side dish to salmon or as a dinner salad with shrimp or chicken. I love orzo because I can get my pasta fix, but I do not have to scarf a huge bowl to feel satisfied. You can throw in tons of fresh veggies and still get a hearty meal. Try to buy whole wheat or quinoa orzo to help beat the crash and keep your blood sugar stable.
Ingredients:
2 Cups Cooked Orzo
1 Can Artichoke Hearts Halved
1-2 Tbs Capers
1 Pint Halved Cherry Tomatoes
1 Half Red Onion-Sliced Thin (I LOVE to use my Mandoline)
1/4 Cup Feta Cheese
1 C Arugula
Dressing:
Olive Oil to Coat Pasta
Red Wine Vinegar (Roughly a quarter of a cup)
Salt and Pepper to Taste
Directions:
Cook the orzo according to package. Remove from water and add to bowl. Combine artichokes, capers, tomatoes, orzo and red onion to bowl. Dress in olive oil, vinegar, salt and pepper to taste. Gently fold in Arugula until slightly wilted.
You have two options here:
1-Top with feta and serve warm with a hot dish.
2-Refrigerate and serve as a side dish or add a protein for a main course. Add feta before serving or after salad is cool.
This easy salad is so simple and delicious! It stays for up to a week in the refrigerator. It would be a great make ahead recipe for your next family gathering.
Join us tonight for the #DoYouAmope Pinterest party! We have some awesome prizes to give away.
