What Do You Know About Greek Orzo Salad?
Greek Orzo Salad is a dish made with lamb, orzo, and red bell pepper. This recipe is a quick and easy way to make a satisfying main course meal, easily made for 4-6 people that is also gluten free. It is a dish that is light, but packs a lot of flavor. It is also one of the healthier options for those who are watching their waistlines.
The ingredients in this salad are simply mixed and matched to create an easy meal that everyone will love. The orzo used in this recipe is not your typical pasty orzo that is used to make boxed macaroni and cheese.
It is a whole grain pasta that has been enriched with vitamins and minerals. The grains of orzo are relatively large compared to other pastas, so it will be slightly chewy when cooked, though not in a bad way.
There are a wide array of vegetables that can be mixed into this salad, such as tomatoes or red bell peppers. Of course your choice and selection of vegetables is up to your own preference as well or if you are guided by a nutritionist. The only thing to keep in mind is the cooking times for different vegetables.
Key benefits of Greek Orzo Salad
1. Can be cooked on the stovetop in a large skillet
This is one of the easiest dishes to make.
- First, get out your largest skillet and turn on your stove to medium heat.
- Next add 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 3/4 pounds of lamb.
- Let the lamb cook for 5 minutes or until it begins to brown.
- Then add 1/2 teaspoon each of salt, pepper and oregano, and 1 chopped red pepper.
- Cook for 2 more minutes then turn off the heat for 5 minutes so that the lamb can finish cooking in its own juices.
2. Enjoy multiple health benefits with just one meal
Orzo has twice as much fiber as other pastas, and it also has twice as many grams of protein per serving. Orzo is also an excellent source of thiamin, niacin, and riboflavin. Red peppers which are added to this dish are also an excellent source of vitamin C and carotene, a type of vitamin A.
3. Very flexible to add other ingredients as well
There are a wide array of vegetables that can be used in this salad. The only thing to keep in mind is the cooking time for each vegetable. Some vegetables can be cooked at the same time as the lamb, while others may need to cook longer than 5 minutes.
For example, this recipe would not work for tomatoes since they need around 15 – 20 minutes of cooking time depending on how ripe they are.
4. Made with unsweetened yogurt and whole grain orzo
Greek yogurt does provide a healthy source of protein, and it also contains beneficial bacteria that promote digestion. Yogurt contains probiotics, which are good for the digestive system, and because of this it can help out with upset stomachs, diarrhea, or upset bowels.
You will want to either use low-fat yogurt or plain cheeses in your salad to avoid the fat that tends to make some gain weight.
The Greek orzo used in this recipe is enriched with vitamins and minerals and is not added as a topping on top of an already nutritious meal. It still gives the dish plenty of nutrients without providing any more calories than necessary.
Consider trying your own greek orzo salad, and let us know how it goes.
