WARM ORZO SALAD WITH GRILLED SHRIMP AND FETA DOWNER-HAZELL

Warm Orzo Salad with Grilled Shrimp and Feta Downer-Hazell image

Yield Serves 4 as a main course

Number Of Ingredients 21

For shrimp:
2 garlic cloves
1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup olive oil
1 tablespoon minced fresh oregano leaves
freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 pound medium shrimp (about 35)
eight 10-inch wooden skewers
1 1/2 cups orzo (rice-shaped pasta; about 11 ounces)
1/2 pound sugar snap peas
2 medium vine-ripened tomatoes
6 scallions
1 cup packed fresh flat-leafed parsley leaves
For dressing:
1/2 garlic clove
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup fresh flat-leafed parsley leaves
2 teaspoons minced fresh oregano leaves
freshly ground black pepper to taste
1/4 cup olive oil
1/3 cup crumbled feta (about 2 ounces)

Steps:

Prepare shrimp:
Mince garlic and in a bowl whisk together with lemon juice, oil, oregano, pepper, and salt to taste. Shell shrimp and devein, if desired, and add to marinade, stirring to coat well. Marinate shrimp, covered and chilled, 1 hour. Prepare grill. Soak skewers in warm water 30 minutes.
While grill is heating, fill a 6-quart kettle three fourths full with salted water and bring to a boil for orzo. Trim sugar snap peas. Chop tomatoes and thinly slice white and pale green parts of scallions. Finely chop parsley.
Make dressing:
Chop garlic and in a blender blend with remaining dressing ingredients until dressing is emulsified.
Stir orzo into boiling water and cook until al dente. Add snap peas and cook 15 seconds. Drain pasta and peas and transfer to a large bowl. Cool pasta 5 minutes and stir in feta, tomatoes, scallions, and parsley. Add dressing to salad and toss well. Season salad with salt and pepper.
Thread shrimp onto skewers, discarding marinade. Grill shrimp on an oiled rack set 5 to 6 inches over glowing coals until just cooked through, 1 to 2 minutes on each side. (Alternatively, grill shrimp in a hot lightly oiled well-seasoned ridged grill pan over moderately high heat.) Push shrimp off skewers into salad and toss gently.