Warm Spinach, Orzo and Pistachio Salad

I love orzo! Okay, so the truth is I love basically everything. But I really really love pasta (like who doesn't?) and have been on a low-carb diet for quite some time now, so eating orzo was pretty amazing! This recipe was tangy and a nice combination of flavors. Without the spinach it would have been too much, but as-is it just kept from being overwhelming.

Ingredients:

1/4 teaspoon salt, plus a large pinch

1/4 cup orzo

2 tablespoons crumbled feta cheese (I used fresh goat's cheese: very creamy texture)

2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil

2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar

freshly ground black pepper

1 and 1/2 cups baby spinach leaves

2 tablespoons chopped red onion

1 heaping tablespoon roasted pistachios

you'll also need:

small saucepan

mesh sieve

mixing bowl

salad tongs (or something else to toss your salad with)

1. in the small saucepan, combine 2 cups of water with 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Bring the water to a boil and dump in the orzo. Cook until al dente, between 7 and 9 minutes. Drain through the sieve instead of a strainer so non of your precious orzo escapes down the sink.

2. I recommend doing all the other steps before that one.



3. in a mixing bowl, combine the goat's cheese, olive oil, vinegar, a large pinch of salt, and pepper to taste. Mix them up until combined. Set aside.

4. keep all the other ingredients separate.

5. once the orzo is done, add it to the bowl with the dressing, and toss gently to coat. Add the spinach, and toss again. Then add the onion and pistachios, tossing to coat them. Serve the whole thing in a bowl. It will still be warm, and it will be quite filling!

I got this recipe from Serves One.