Description
Cilantro lime confetti orzo brings Mediterranean brightness to weeknight dinners with minimal effort. Fresh ingredients and quick preparation make this colorful pasta dish a delightful choice for adventurous cooks who appreciate simple, zesty meals.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (240 ml/8 fl oz) orzo pasta
- ½ cup (80 g/2.8 oz) red bell pepper, finely diced
- ½ cup (80 g/2.8 oz) yellow bell pepper, finely diced
- ½ cup (80 g/2.8 oz) corn kernels (fresh, frozen, or canned)
- ¼ cup (40 g/1.4 oz) red onion, finely chopped
- ⅓ cup (20 g/0.7 oz) fresh cilantro, chopped
- Zest of 1 lime
- 2 tbsps (30 ml/1 fl oz) olive oil
- Juice of 2 limes
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Pasta Preparation: Cook orzo according to package instructions until al dente, then rapidly cool by draining and rinsing with cold water to prevent overcooking.
- Vegetable Preparation: Meticulously chop bell peppers into uniform cubes, slice red onion into delicate slivers, and gather sweet corn kernels for a vibrant, textural medley.
- Salad Assembly: Combine cooled orzo with chopped vegetables, incorporating cilantro throughout the mixture to create a colorful and aromatic base.
- Dressing Creation: Whisk lime juice, lime zest, olive oil, salt, and black pepper into a harmonious citrus-infused vinaigrette that will elevate the entire dish.
- Flavor Fusion: Gently pour dressing over the orzo mixture, carefully folding to ensure complete and even coating, allowing each ingredient to absorb the zesty essence.
- Flavor Refinement: Conduct a taste test, adjusting seasoning with additional salt, pepper, or lime juice to achieve a perfectly balanced flavor profile.
- Chilling and Serving: Refrigerate the salad for at least 20 minutes, enabling the ingredients to marinate and intensify their collective flavor before presenting this refreshing dish.
Notes
- Prevent Pasta Clumping: Rinse orzo with cold water and toss with a touch of olive oil to stop sticking and maintain individual grain separation.
- Maximize Flavor Infusion: Let the salad rest in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes, allowing ingredients to marinate and develop deeper, more complex taste profiles.
- Customize Texture Options: For a protein boost, add grilled chicken, shredded rotisserie chicken, or chickpeas to transform the dish into a complete meal.
- Maintain Fresh Herb Vibrancy: Chop cilantro just before mixing to preserve its bright color and prevent wilting, ensuring a fresh and aromatic final presentation.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 26 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg