Best 20 Mediterranean Orzo Recipes

MEDITERRANEAN ORZO SALAD

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook orzo in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until tender yet firm to the bite, about 9 minutes. Drain well. Rinse with cold water and drain well again.
• Combine orzo, cherry tomatoes, red onion, cucumber, olives, and Asiago cheese in a large bowl.
• Whisk garlic, olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, salt, and pepper together in a small bowl to make the vinaigrette. Drizzle over the orzo mixture and toss lightly to combine. Add basil and parsley and mix well. Let sit for 20 minutes for flavors to blend, stirring occasionally.

MEDITERRANEAN CHICKEN ORZO SOUP

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high heat. Add chicken; cook and stir 6-8 minutes or until no longer pink. Remove from pan., In same pan, heat remaining oil over medium-high heat. Add vegetables, salt, oregano and pepper; cook and stir 4-6 minutes or until vegetables are crisp-tender. Add wine, stirring to loosen browned bits from pan. Stir in broth, rosemary and bay leaf; bring to a boil., Add orzo. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, 15-18 minutes or until orzo is tender, stirring occasionally. Return chicken to pan; heat through. Stir in lemon zest and juice; remove bay leaf. If desired, top each serving with parsley.

MEDITERRANEAN PORK AND ORZO

Steps:

• Rub pork with pepper; cut into 1-in. cubes. In a large nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add pork; cook and stir until no longer pink, 8-10 minutes., Meanwhile, in a Dutch oven, bring water to a boil. Stir in orzo and salt; cook, uncovered, 8 minutes. Stir in spinach; cook until orzo is tender and spinach is wilted, 45-60 seconds longer. Drain., Add tomatoes to pork; heat through. Stir in orzo mixture and cheese.

MEDITERRANEAN SHRIMP ORZO SALAD

Steps:

• Cook orzo according to package directions. Drain; rinse with cold water and drain well., In a large bowl, combine orzo, shrimp, vegetables, olives and herbs. Add vinaigrette; toss to coat. Refrigerate, covered, until serving.

MEDITERRANEAN ORZO CHICKEN SALAD

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain pasta; rinse with cold water and drain well., In a large bowl, combine pasta, chicken, tomatoes, cheese, olives and onion. In a small bowl, whisk remaining ingredients until blended. Drizzle over salad; toss to coat.

EASY MEDITERRANEAN ORZO SALAD

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook orzo in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until tender yet firm to the bite, about 11 minutes. Drain well.
• Toss orzo with lemon-infused olive oil. Add olives, artichoke hearts, chickpeas, roasted red peppers, pine nuts, and ricotta salata. Toss to combine. Refrigerate to chill and allow flavors to build.

MEDITERRANEAN CHICKEN AND ORZO SALAD IN RED PEPPER CUPS

Steps:

• Fill a large pot with lightly salted water and bring to a rolling boil over high heat. Once the water is boiling, stir in the orzo, and return to a boil. Cook the pasta uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the pasta has cooked through, but is still firm to the bite, about 11 minutes. Drain well in a colander set in the sink, transfer to a bowl, and let cool in the refrigerator.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, oregano, basil, onion powder, salt, and pepper. In a large bowl, stir together the cooked orzo, tomatoes, olives, feta cheese, and chicken breast meat until thoroughly combined. Pour the dressing over the orzo mixture, lightly mix to coat all ingredients with dressing, and spoon into the red pepper halves. Garnish each serving with an oregano sprig.

MEDITERRANEAN CHICKEN ORZO

Steps:

• In a 3- or 4-qt. slow cooker, combine the first 11 ingredients. Cook, covered, on low 4-5 hours or until chicken, pasta and vegetables are tender, adding orzo during the last 30 minutes of cooking.

PRESSURE-COOKER MEDITERRANEAN CHICKEN ORZO

Steps:

• In a 6-qt. electric pressure cooker, combine the first 11 ingredients; stir to combine. Lock lid; close pressure-release valve. Adjust to pressure-cook on high for 8 minutes. Quick-release pressure., Add orzo. Lock lid; close pressure-release valve. Adjust to pressure-cook on low for 3 minutes. Allow pressure to naturally release for 4 minutes, then quick-release any remaining pressure. Let stand 8-10 minutes before serving.

MEDITERRANEAN ORZO SPINACH SALAD

Steps:

• Bring a pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add orzo pasta, cook for 5 minutes, or until al dente. Drain.
• Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Place the lamb and garlic in the skillet. Season lamb with coriander, salt, and pepper. Cook until evenly browned. Remove from heat, and drain.
• In a large bowl, mix the spinach, tomatoes, lemon juice and zest, mint, parsley, green onions, and remaining olive oil. Toss with the orzo, lamb, and feta cheese to serve.

MEDITERRANEAN CHICKEN AND ORZO

Steps:

• In 10-inch skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add chicken; cook about 10 minutes, turning once, until brown. Remove chicken from skillet; keep warm.
• In same skillet, mix garlic, pasta, broth and water. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat; cover and simmer about 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until most of liquid is absorbed.
• Stir in remaining ingredients except cheese and olives. Add chicken. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat; cover and simmer about 5 minutes, stirring once, until bell pepper is crisp-tender and pasta is tender and chicken is no longer pink in center. Sprinkle with feta cheese and olives.

MEDITERRANEAN CHICKEN AND ORZO

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Pound chicken breasts with a meat mallet to 1/2-in. thickness. Place in a greased 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Mix 1 teaspoon basil, 1 teaspoon rosemary and 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt; sprinkle over chicken. Bake, uncovered, 18-20 minutes or until a thermometer reads 165°. Cut chicken into thin strips., Meanwhile, in a 6-qt. stockpot, cook orzo according to package directions, adding spinach during the last minute of cooking. Drain and return to pan. In a small bowl, whisk oil, mustard, oregano and remaining basil, rosemary and garlic salt; add to orzo. Add tomatoes, 1 cup Asiago cheese, feta cheese, pine nuts and chicken; toss to combine. Sprinkle with remaining Asiago cheese.

MEDITERRANEAN SEAFOOD AND ORZO SOUP

Steps:

• Mix halibut, lemon juice and 4 teaspoons oil in a medium bowl.
• Let mixture stand while preparing soup.
• Heat 1/4 cup oil in a heavy large saucepan over medium heat.
• Add onions and cook until translucent, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes.
• Squeeze tomatoes through fingers to break up while adding to saucepan.
• Add clam juice, wine, bay leaf, orange peel strips, fennel and dried red pepper.
• Simmer soup for 10 minutes.
• Add orzo and cook for 5 more minutes.
• Add clams to soup.
• Cover and cook for 5 minutes longer.
• Add halibut.
• Cover and cook until halibut is opaque and clams open, about 4 minutes longer.
• Discard bat leaf, orange peel and any clams that do not open.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Garnish with parsley.

MEDITERRANEAN ONION-ORZO SOUP

Steps:

• Heat butter and oil in a large stockpot oven medium heat; add in the onions with 3 tablespoons white sugar and cook for about 25-30 minutes, stirring occaionally until lightly browned and caramalized (adding in the garlic, chili flakes, thyme and oregano the last 5 minutes of cooking).
• Add in the broth, undrained tomatoes, tomato sauce and bay leaf; bring to a boil and simmer for about 45 minutes on low heat, adding in the orzo the last 10-15 minutes of simmering; cook until the pasta is tender.
• Season with salt and lots black pepper.
• Ladle into bowl, then top with croutons, then sprinkle with Parmesan cheese or Swiss cheese.

MEDITERRANEAN PORK AND ORZO

Steps:

• Rub pork with pepper; cut into 1-inch cubes. In a large nonstick skillet, cook pork in oil over medium heat for 8-10 minutes or until no longer pink.
• Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, bring water to a boil. Stir in orzo and salt; cook, uncovered, for 8 minutes. Stir in spinach; cook 45-60 seconds longer or until orzo is tender and spinach is wilted.
• Add tomatoes to the pork; cook and stir for 1 minute or until heated through. Drain orzo mixture; toss with pork mixture and feta cheese.

MEDITERRANEAN ORZO

Steps:

• In large nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add onion; cook, stirring frequently, until softened, 4-5 minutes. Stir in orzo, broth, salt and pepper; bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat to medium-low. Cover; cook until orzo is just tender, about 7 minutes, adding tomatoes and olives during last 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in Parmesan, parsley and lemon zest.

MEDITERRANEAN PORK WITH ORZO

Steps:

• Bring water and salt to boil. Add orzo, cook 8 minutes.
• While orzo is cooking, cut pork into 1 inch cubes. Toss with lemon pepper. Heat olive oil in skillet, saute pork until done, 8-10 minutes. Turn down to low; add olives, spinach and tomatoes. Cook 2 minutes until spinach is wilted.
• Drain orzo, toss with pork mixture. Top with feta.

GRILLED SOUTHERN TURKISH TAMALES & TURKISH PORK KABOBS WITH MEDITERRANEAN ORZO PILAF

Steps:

• 1. 1.) Prepare Mediterranean orzo pilaf. Bring chicken broth to a boil in a large Dutch oven; stir in orzo. Reduce heat; simmer 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from heat and cover. Melt 2 tablespoons unsalted butter in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add green bell peppers, green onions and garlic; sauté for 2 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside. Drain any excess broth from orzo. Combine orzo and buttered sautéed vegetable mixture into a 2-quart round casserole dish, fold in diced tomatoes and sliced black olives; set aside.
• 2. 2.) Wash out Dutch oven clean, dry inside out completely to prepare Southern Tamale leaves. Fill Dutch oven to 2-inches from rim with hot water. Bring water to a rapid boil. Turn off heat and add collard leaves. Let sit for 3 - 5 minutes. Quickly remove leaves from water and place leaves flat along side each other onto a few layers of paper towels. Place a large spoonful of Mediterranean orzo pilaf mixture in the center of each collard leaf. Fold the ends over the pilaf mixture to form a sealed packed. Secure each with toothpick for added protection. Place tamales onto a plate; set aside. Reserve remaining Mediterranean orzo pilaf to serve later with completed meal.
• 3. 3.) Prepare pork kabobs. Season all sides of pork with a little salt and ground black pepper. Tread seasoned pork, eggplant, zucchini and red bell peppers alternately on each of 10 bamboo skewers, leaving about 1-inch space free from tops of each skewer. Brush each lightly with Italian dressing. Heat coal or gas grill for medium heat level. Place kabobs on lower rack of grill along side each other. Cover and grill kabobs over medium heat 10 minutes, turning and brushing with Italian dressing every 2 minutes. Add tamales onto outer edge or upper rack of grill and cook, for an additional 5 minutes longer for kabobs, brushing kabobs with Italian dressing and turning tamales one time within 2 ½ minutes, or until pork is no longer pink and vegetables plus tamales are tender.
• 4. 4.) To serve, place grilled kabobs and tamales onto serving platters, along side of Mediterranean orzo pilaf, or serve even portions of each onto 6 individual serving plates.

MEDITERRANEAN ORZO SALAD WITH FETA VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Cook the orzo according to package directions, omitting salt and fat. Drain; rinse with cold water. Combine orzo, spinach, and next 5 ingredients (through salt) in a large bowl. Drain artichokes, reserving marinade. Coarsely chop artichokes, and add artichokes, reserved marinade, and 1/2 cup feta cheese to orzo mixture, tossing gently to coat. Sprinkle each serving with remaining feta cheese. Nutritional Information Calories:338 (29% from fat) Fat:11g (sat 3.8g,mono 2.7g,poly 0.5g) Protein:11.9g

MEDITERRANEAN CHICKEN WITH ROSEMARY ORZO

Steps:

• 1. Heat 10-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Cook chicken in skillet about 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until brown.
• 2. Stir in garlic, pasta and broth. Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer about 8 minutes or until most of the liquid is absorbed.
• 3. Stir in remaining ingredients. Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer about 5 minutes, stirring once, until bell pepper is crisp-tender and pasta is tender.