Mild and wholesome, this orzo rooster salad is a vibrant dish for a straightforward dinner. The addition of orzo lends heft, teaming up with chunks of roasted rooster, leafy arugula and juicy tomatoes for a shiny and recent salad.
Orzo is the Italian phrase for barley, which is deceiving since orzo will not be a grain. And, to muddle its identify even additional, orzo is also referred to as risoni in Italy, although it’s not a rice. Orzo is a rice-shaped pasta often created from semolina flour. When cooked, it has a agency texture that certainly resembles rice. It imparts a starchy creaminess to soups and pasta dishes and makes a toothsome addition to salads.
What’s completely clear is that orzo is a welcome ingredient on this salad you could name dinner. Dinner salads are all about simple consuming. It’s an entire meal and takes benefit of any leftover rooster you could have. If not, no worries — the rooster prep is included within the recipe methodology beneath. The recipe may be simply ready for a fast dinner. If in case you have further time, let the rooster marinate within the French dressing, which does double-duty as a marinade and dressing on this recipe.
Hen Orzo Salad
Yield: Serves 2 to 4
INGREDIENTS:
French dressing:
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons white or golden balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon recent lemon juice
1 small garlic clove, minced or pushed via a press
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly floor black pepper
Salad:
2 boneless, skinless rooster breasts, pounded to even thickness
Kosher salt
6 ounces orzo
1/2 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
Freshly floor black pepper
2 to three beneficiant handfuls child arugula, about 2 ounces
1 cup halved cherry tomatoes
1/4 cup Italian parsley leaves, roughly chopped
8 to 10 pitted black olives, akin to Kalamata, halved lengthwise
1/4 cup shaved Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, plus extra for garnish
DIRECTIONS:
1. Mix the dressing elements in a small bowl or jar and whisk or shake to emulsify.
2. Place the rooster in a large bowl. Drizzle 2 to three tablespoons of the dressing over it and switch to coat. Let marinate whilst you put together the pasta.
3. Convey a big pot of generously salted water to a rolling boil. Add the orzo and cook dinner based on package deal instruction till al dente. Drain and switch to a bowl. Add the lemon zest and 1 tablespoon dressing and stir to coat (it will assist to forestall sticking). Cool to lukewarm or room temperature.
4. Evenly season the rooster with salt and black pepper.
5. If utilizing an oven, place the rooster in a baking dish. Bake in a preheated 375-degree oven till cooked via, about 20 minutes, relying on the thickness. If utilizing a skillet, cook dinner the rooster in an oiled skillet over medium warmth till cooked via, 8 to 10 minutes, relying on thickness, turning a couple of times. As soon as the rooster is cooked, lower or shred into bite-size items.
6. To assemble the salad, mix the rooster, orzo, arugula, tomatoes, parsley, olives and the 1/4 cup cheese in a big serving bowl. Drizzle the remaining dressing over the salad and gently toss to mix. Serve garnished with further cheese.
