Denise says:

This vegetarian friendly salad is perfect for the Purim seudah table with its pine nuts, chopped up and small ingredients – like the nuts and seeds Queen Esther survived on.

Orzo is a small pasta shape made in the shape of a grain of rice. This pasta is very versatile and is often used in soups. The word ‘orzo’ is Italian for barley as it refers to the size and shape of the pasta. You can eat orzo plain, with olive oil or with a light sauce. The small pieces are dense when cooked as they have no hollow spaces like most pasta.

In addition to finding orzo pasta plain, it can also be purchased flavoured with vegetables like spinach, beetroot or carrots. Many companies make rainbow orzo pasta using several different vegetables to create a colourful appearance.

Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 25 minutes
Serves: 4 people

Ingredients:

3 spring onions – trimmed and sliced
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
5 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
250g orzo pasta
2 red peppers – deseeded and cut into quarters
200g block feta cheese – crumbled
2 tablespoons pinenuts –roasted
Large bunch of fresh mint – roughly chopped
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Garnish: Rocket leaves

Method

1) Pre-heat the grill to its highest setting
2) Place the peppers on an oven tray. Drizzle with 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil and grill for 10 - 15 minutes or until blackened.
3) Remove and immediately transfer to a dish and cover with cling film. Leave to cool.
4) Cook the orzo in boiling salted water until just tender. Drain and rinse under cold water and then drain really well again.
5) Put the onions in a bowl, season with salt and freshly ground pepper and toss with the red wine vinegar and remaining 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil.
6) Remove the skin from the peppers. Slice into strips.
7) Mix the onion, red pepper and dressing ingredients into the orzo. Stir in the feta cheese, pine nuts and fresh mint.

To serve the stylish way: Garnish with rocket leaves.
Tagged in: Dinner Party, Italian, Parev, Pasta, Pine Nuts, Purim, Red Pepper, Salads, Shabbat, Vegetarian, Yom Tov