Ingredients
-
1 cup walnut halves
-
1 cucumber
-
1 red bell pepper
-
1 yellow bell pepper
-
kosher salt
-
1 1/2 cups dry orzo pasta
-
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
-
1/2 cup kalamata olive, pitted and halved
-
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
-
1/4 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley
-
1 1/4 cups crumbled feta cheese
-
salt & freshly ground black pepper, to taste
-
1/3 cup lemon vinaigrette
-
-
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
-
2 teaspoons red wine vinegar
-
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
-
1 teaspoon honey
-
1 garlic clove, finely chopped
-
1 teaspoon kosher salt
-
1/4 teaspoon white pepper
-
1 tablespoon lemon zest, freshly grated
-
1/2 cup diced scallion
Instructions
- SALAD.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Spread the walnuts on a rimmed baking sheet and toast on the center rack of the oven for about 10 minutes, or until golden brown.
- Let cool, then coarsely chop and set aside.
- Peel and core the cucumber and cut it into 1/2-inch cubes.
- Core the red and yellow peppers and cut them into 1/2-inch-square pieces.
- Set aside.
- Fill a large saucepan two-thirds full of water.
- Add a pinch of salt and bring to a boil.
- Drop in the pasta and simmer for 3 to 5 minutes, or until tender.
- Remove the pan from the heat and drain the pasta in a colander, then cool the pasta by running cold tap water over the colander for a few minutes.
- Shake the colander to remove excess water and transfer the cooled pasta to a medium bowl.
- Toss with the olive oil to keep the pasta from sticking together.
- Add the toasted walnuts, cucumbers, peppers, olives, scallions, basil, parsley and feta.
- Drizzle in the Lemon Vinaigrette and toss well.
- Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Cover and store in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
- LEMON VINAIGRETTE yield: 1 1/4 cups.
- Combine all the ingredients except the olive oil in a medium bowl.
- Mix well with a whisk.
- Add the oil in a slow stream, whisking as you pour.
- Continue whisking until the dressing has emulsified, then cover and store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.