Tri-Colore Orzo

Recipe courtesy Giada De Laurentiis

Show: Everyday ItalianEpisode: Dressing Up BBQ

Rated: 5 stars out of 5Rate itRead users' reviews (194)

RECIPE
COMMENTS & REVIEWS(194)

Cook Time:
10 min
Level:
Easy
Yield:
4 to 6 servings

Times:

Prep: 15 min
Inactive Prep: 15 min
Cook: 10 min
Total:: 40 min

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Ingredients

1 pound orzo pasta
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus 1/4 cup
2 cups fresh arugula (about 3 ounces)
3/4 cup crumbled ricotta salata cheese (or feta cheese)
1/2 cup dried cherries
12 fresh basil leaves, torn
1/4 cup toasted pine nuts
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain pasta and put the pasta on a large cookie sheet. Drizzle the pasta with 3 tablespoons olive oil, toss, spread out, and set aside to cool.

Once the orzo is cool, transfer to a large serving bowl. Add the remaining ingredients and toss gently to combine. Serve.

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Comments & Reviews

recipe Tri-Colore Orzo
Lona Telford, PA 02-24-2010
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LITE AND REFRESHING !!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I have made this several times and it is sooooooooo good, everyone who has tried it loves it. I don't care for ricotta... salata so I used a good parm cheese, and also used cranberries instead of cherries. The arugula really gives this pasta salad a great lemon-pepper flavor. Thanks GiadaRead more
recipe Tri-Colore Orzo
Linda Simi Valley , CA 11-11-2009
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Everyone wants this recipe!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I made it for a party, I did add quite a bit more lemon juice than it calls for and instead of arugala I chopped up some... hearts of romain. Every ingredient in this salad stands out! I also sprinkled it with parmesan cheese. During the party, most of my guests asked for the recipe. I didn't have time to get the recipe to them during my party, but had quite a few of them calling me during the week to get it. One friend told me that she had been craving it ever since she tasted it! I love it!Read more
recipe Tri-Colore Orzo
Danielle San Francisco, CA 11-02-2009
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My favorite pasta salad
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

So simple to make, and utterly delicious. The arugula is a very nice surprise, adds a peppery bite that works very well with... the salty cheese and sweet/tart cherries. Great for a BBQ, since i doesn't have to be refrigerated. Read more
recipe Tri-Colore Orzo
null null, null 10-22-2009
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Great Pasta Salad
Rated: 4 stars out of 5

Don't skimp on the cherries or the basil!!! You'll really miss out what the flavors are all about! I make this dish all the... time, and it even tastes great for those who want to be gluten free. (If that is the case, you can try a short rice pasta which is light enough to really let the flavors come through) Read more
recipe Tri-Colore Orzo
Trisha Edmonds, WA 10-15-2009
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Fantastic Recipe!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I have made this so many times and every time people approach and ask what it is give me an odd look then take a bite and... continue to finish off the bowl!!! SO yummy! I didn't have any cherries but I did have dried cranberries and apricots so I diced up the apricots and tossed them in with the cranberries and I don't care for arugula so I used a purchased bag of sweet baby greens in addition to the basil and it turned out delicious!!!!!! This recipe has earned the honor of becoming a staple recipe in my recipe box.Read more
recipe Tri-Colore Orzo
Laurie Gardner, MA 10-04-2009
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EXCELLENT PASTA SALAD!!!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

This salad is amazing!!!! I have made it many times, and it is so easy to prepare. Every time I make it, someone asks for the... recipe. It is light tasting, and the dried fruit is a great addition--just a little sweetness. I have tweaked this recipe a little bit because of what I had on hand--have used feta instead of ricotta salata (although hard to find, this cheese is good also), spinach instead of arugula, etc... I always add lemon zest along with the juice--bumps up lemon flavor! Everything goes together perfectly---rave reviews!!!!!Read more