Leftover Summer Fresh Orzo Salad
This is a dish I made a while back, that I have yet to blog about. It is so very simple, but the taste was just so bright and summery, I thought this would be the perfect time to share it – in the height of summer. These are my favorite kinds of salads – “leftovers salads”, where you pull a bunch of stuff out of the pantry and out of the garden, and make a simple masterpiece. I do a lot of these “leftovers salads” and they are always the best because they are always so unique.
I had half a box of orzo pasta that I cooked up and then cooled. I drizzled it with some sun dried tomato dipping olive oil that I received via FromTheFarm.com from Sierra Olive Oil Company. Then I chopped some heirloom tomatoes and garden tomatoes and some fresh mozzarella.
I stirred that in with fresh chopped herbs from our garden: basil, oregano, scallions and lemon balm. A little salt and pepper for the top, and a final drizzle of organic Meyer lemon vinegar.
I brought this to a potluck dinner and there was nary a piece of orzo left! Now that I am writing about it, I am craving it again! 🙂
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elra - July 20, 2009 at 11:09 am
Hi Jenn, thanks for stopping by at my blog today. Means a lot to me and always like to discover a new friend through blogging community.
What a fabulous blog you have here. I like your colorful photographs, and your recipes are awesome. I like the idea behind your blog too, using left over as a completely new dish. Superb!
Elle - July 20, 2009 at 12:15 pm
Oh, that just made me hungry! Not only does it look good, but every single thing you put in there sounds amazing. Summer in a bowl!
Jeff - July 20, 2009 at 12:18 pm
I agree with elle this is the perfect summer in a bowl! Man makes the salad I just had for lunch seem pointless and bland 🙁
Awesome job!!
Judy - July 20, 2009 at 1:11 pm
Beautiful looking salad Jenn!
Rosa - July 20, 2009 at 1:34 pm
What a delightful salad! I just bought orzo today ;-P…
Cheers,
Rosa
CurryLeaf - July 20, 2009 at 2:29 pm
Beautiful salad.Leftovers are perfect this way and unique and best as you have said.
kat - July 20, 2009 at 2:42 pm
looks perfect for summer!
Jenn - July 20, 2009 at 3:48 pm
I really gotta start using orzo. I’ve been seeing it a lot lately. Perfect for the summer.
kat - July 20, 2009 at 4:53 pm
A really beautiful salad
Bellini Valli - July 20, 2009 at 5:08 pm
Nothing like fresh market ingredients to brighten the best of salads Jenn.
zoe - July 20, 2009 at 5:12 pm
Mmm I love the size and texture of orzo. These fresh ingredients make this dish perfect for a summer bbq!
maybelles mom - July 20, 2009 at 7:10 pm
sounds delicious and refreshing.
Soma - July 20, 2009 at 7:28 pm
This is the right thing for NOW!! I could so have this for my dinner…
The Duo Dishes - July 20, 2009 at 8:36 pm
Orzo! Yes! Please save a bowl for 2.
patsyk - July 20, 2009 at 9:17 pm
perfectly summery flavor! I love how you pull these dishes together so effortlessly!
Adam - July 20, 2009 at 9:27 pm
Elle hit that right on the head… summer in a bowl. I love the colors, and oh man those tomatoes and cheese 🙂
Not so bad for a “leftover”… but then again, you are the Queen, my dear 🙂
Ivy - July 21, 2009 at 12:32 am
There’s nothing best than using vegetables or herbs from your garden. The salad is a perfect summer meal on its own.
nina - July 21, 2009 at 2:50 am
Beautiful and summery,,,,exactly what a salad should look like!!!!
DebinHawaii - July 21, 2009 at 3:35 am
It looks like the perfect summer dish–orzo is such a great base!
Peter G - July 21, 2009 at 6:44 am
Orzo is so versatile…nice one Jenn! Love all the tomato flavours you have going on here…and yes it’s very “summery”!
Pam - July 21, 2009 at 7:48 am
I love summery dishes like this….light and fresh!
http://www.alovefornewrecipes.blogspot.com
leslie - July 21, 2009 at 8:09 am
ohhh so delish! What a fresh and delightful salad.
I wish I could grow veggies. I cant even keep a rosemary plant alive! I suppose I have a black thumb
David Hall - July 21, 2009 at 8:48 am
Loving the leftover salad Jenn, very inspiring. How’s tricks?
Cheers
David
girlichef - July 21, 2009 at 9:39 am
What a fabulous bowl of summer! It looks so delicious 😀
Arlene (MOM) - July 21, 2009 at 10:48 am
That does look yummy. I am a big fan of main dish type salads. I think this is a nice spin on the usual pasta salad, but lighter.
Jenny @ Nourished Kitchen - July 21, 2009 at 12:56 pm
What a beautiful combination of flavors. Perfect for summer. I bet it just sparkles with flavor.
Lisa - July 21, 2009 at 12:58 pm
A perfect summer salad. Love the images. Just gorgeous!
Michelle - July 21, 2009 at 5:26 pm
Mmmmmm…sounds tasty! And easy enough even I could do it! 😉
pam - July 21, 2009 at 7:58 pm
I love this kind of salad. A bit of this, a bit of that, never the same twice.
Jen of a2eatwrite - July 21, 2009 at 10:22 pm
I adore these kind of dishes. I’ve been making a lot of “leftover pastas” lately – take whatever I’ve got in the fridge, grill or saute or roast it and toss it with pasta and parmesan.
Perfect.
Donna - July 21, 2009 at 11:03 pm
This salad looks delicious. I love the viniagrette you chose. Lovely colors.
Amy Green - Simply Sugar & Gluten-Free - July 21, 2009 at 11:53 pm
Your pictures are wonderful as is the way you’ve taken ingredients you already have and making a wonderful dish to share with friends.
I have a pantry full of food I could use to make an impromptu dish like this.
ure - July 22, 2009 at 1:54 am
So delicious that I’ll have to make it tonight, that’s for sure.
farida - July 22, 2009 at 5:30 pm
Great looking salad. I love orzo! A salad with orzo sounds delicious to me.
Haley J. - July 28, 2009 at 8:39 pm
I want this in my mouth five minutes ago. It looks like exactly what I didn’t know I was craving.
chez danisse - August 17, 2009 at 8:51 pm
this looks so good! i wish i had the bowl in front of me right now.
Julie - August 29, 2009 at 10:44 pm
Wow, so simple but yet so perfect! I think this may be what I’ll bring to a potluck next week! thanks!