GRILLED VEGETABLE ORZO SALAD

Grilled Vegetable Orzo Salad image

Vegetables that are in season make great additions to this orzo salad. It's the perfect side dish for a picnic, it can easily be doubled for a crowd, or you can add grilled chicken to make it a filling entree. -Danielle Miller, Westfield, Indiana

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories Lunch

Time 45m

Yield 8 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 19

Ingredients

1-1/4 cups uncooked orzo pasta
1/2 pound fresh asparagus, trimmed
1 medium zucchini, cut lengthwise into 1/2-inch slices
1 medium sweet yellow or red pepper, halved
1 large portobello mushroom, stem removed
1/2 medium red onion, halved
DRESSING:
1/3 cup olive oil
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
3 tablespoons lemon juice
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon lemon-pepper seasoning
SALAD:
1 cup grape tomatoes, halved
1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley
1 tablespoon minced fresh basil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 cup (4 ounces) crumbled feta cheese

Steps:

Cook orzo according to package directions. Place vegetables in a large bowl. In a small bowl, whisk dressing ingredients. Add to vegetables and toss to coat., Remove vegetables, reserving dressing. Grill mushroom, pepper and onion, covered, over medium heat 5-10 minutes or until tender, turning occasionally. Grill asparagus and zucchini, covered, 3-4 minutes or until desired doneness, turning occasionally., When cool enough to handle, cut vegetables into bite-size pieces. In a large bowl, combine cooked orzo, grilled vegetables, tomatoes, parsley, basil, salt, pepper and reserved dressing; toss to combine. Serve at room temperature or refrigerate until cold. Just before serving, stir in cheese.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 260 calories, Fat 12g fat (3g saturated fat), Cholesterol 8mg cholesterol, Sodium 352mg sodium, Carbohydrate 30g carbohydrate (4g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 8g protein. Diabetic Exchanges