Arugula and Orzo Salad

Summer is the time for sitting out on the porch with a cool, crisp and refreshing salad. As summer slowly winds down in Minnesota I wanted to get a few more salads in before pumpkin soup, risotto, jackets and football become the norm.

Inspired by my favorite Quinoa Party Salad I wanted to add a few more veggies and give it a hint of peppery goodness from the arugula. Add in the fact that quinoa is impossible to find at a grocery store near the boyfriends house so I substituted orzo. Finding recipe’s that work with what you can get near you is really important to me. I remember the first time I tried to describe to my mom, friend, boyfriend, grandma, any Midwestern person what some of the ingredients that I use on a regular basis are. That blank look, you know the one I am talking about, confused eyes and head tilted a bit. Think what a dog does when you talk to them  

But as the people around me have gotten used to my cooking it is amazing to see what they know now have in their pantry. My mom had a good bottle of olive oil, some couscous and even some cumin last time I was there. I would say that is progress!

Ingredients

1/2 box of orzo, cooked and cooled

1 can black beans, rinsed

1 cup Trader Joe’s Roasted Corn (any corn would work though)

Half a bag of arugula

1 bunch cilantro, chopped

1 red pepper, diced

1 cup cherry or grape tomatoes

1/4 cup olive oil

1 tbsp cumin

1 lime, juiced

Pinch of red pepper flakes

Salt/Pepper

Directions

Cook orzo and cool, add to a large bowl and drizzle with a bit of olive oil to keep it from drying out.

Add black beans, corn, arugula, cilantro, pepper, and tomatoes to the cooled orzo

In a small bowl mix together olive oil, cumin, lime, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper. Pour over the orzo and vegetable mixture.

Serve immediately or chill for a few hours.

Vegan and vegetarian friendly, pretty easy on the budget, and a great salad to take to a party, or just to eat for lunches for a few days. We had this for dinner last night with some grilled chicken, veggie kabobs, and a nice pinot noir. The perfect relaxing summer evening.