Chicken and Orzo Salad

Name: Chicken and Orzo Salad
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 4 serving(s)
Ingredients: 2/3 cup pesto sauce; 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar; 1/4 teaspoon salt; fresh ground pepper; 3 tablespoons olive oil; 3/4 lb orzo pasta; 2 1/2 cups shredded cooked chicken (can use rotisserie chicken); 1/2 lb cherry tomatoes, cut in half; 6 ounces baby spinach leaves

Submitted by JillAZ

"This is a delicious summer salad that was in our local paper food section this week. They give credit to Williams-Sonoma Food Made Fast: Salad. Regardless, it is delicious! I used homemade pesto and only added half the baby spinach as it was plenty. I would probably cut the spinach into ribbons next time as it was a little awkward eating the whole leaves."

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Ready In:: 20mins
Ingredients:: 9
Serves:: 4

ingredients

²⁄₃ cup pesto sauce
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
¹⁄₄ teaspoon salt
fresh ground pepper
3 tablespoons olive oil
³⁄₄ lb orzo pasta
2 ¹⁄₂ cups shredded cooked chicken (can use rotisserie chicken)
¹⁄₂ lb cherry tomatoes, cut in half
6 ounces baby spinach leaves

directions

In the bowl in which you will serve the salad, whisk together the pesto, vinegar, salt and pepper. Gradually whisk in oil until smooth. Set aside.
Bring a large pot of water to a boil Add 2 T. salt and the orzo. Cook, stirring occasionally until done. About 9 minutes. follow package directions.
Drain, rinse under cold water and drain again.
Add to bowl with vinaigrette and toss to coat.
Add chicken, tomatoes and spinach leaves.
Toss to combine and serve.
Note: This says 4 servings but they are very generous servings.

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Reviews

This is a WOW recipe! It can be fixed so many ways. True to the Zaar tradition I "messed with it" a little. I used Mirj's sun dried tomatoes instead of fresh, chopped the spinach in the food processor used homemade spinach and basil pesto and sliced some kalamata olives to mix in also. I made it in the morning and chilled it until supper time and served it with some french bread and fresh fruit - it was delicious! This is a "doer again" as my husband says. Thanks, Carole in Orlando

carole in orlando
Excellent! I'll use a little less olive oil next time, but this is a repeat recipe. Don't skimp on the tomatoes, they are critical. Thank you!

burnhamtx

RECIPE SUBMITTED BY

JillAZ

Cave Creek, 0

My DH and I live in Arizona. We have five children ages 24, 20, 16, and 14 year old twins. I LOVE to cook and find it a lot of fun and very relaxing. I have an extensive cookbook collection and enjoy reading them.  <img src=http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/susied214/permanent%20collection/BtoBHosts.jpg border=0 alt=Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket /> <a href=http://photobucket.com target=_blank><img src=http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b161/tisht/freezer.jpg border=0 alt=Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket /></a> <a href=http://s7.photobucket.com/albums/y254/Missymop/?action=view?t=daringdingos.jpg target=_blank><img src=http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y254/Missymop/daringdingos.jpg border=0 alt=Photobucket /></a> <a href=http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b161/tisht/?action=view?t=tish2.jpg target=_blank><img src=http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b161/tisht/tish2.jpg border=0 alt=Recipezaar Challenge 2008 /></a>

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