Author Notes: Make the most of summer tomatoes with this recipe for orzo salad with grilled tomatoes served in a tomato bowl. For step-by-step photos, go to: http://www.icancookthat.org/2012/04/grilled-tomato-orzo-salad-in-a-tomato-bowl.html —I Can Cook That
Serves: 4
Ingredients
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1
cup uncooked orzo
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4
cups vegetable broth
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2
bunches fresh basil leaves (~2 cups)
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1/3
cup walnuts
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3
garlic cloves, minced
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1
lemon, zested and juiced
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salt and pepper, to taste
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1/4
cup parmigiano-reggiano cheese
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1/3
cup olive oil
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4
large beefsteak tomatoes
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1
pint grape tomatoes, halved
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1
tablespoon olive oil
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1
corn cob (or ~1/3 cup frozen corn kernels)
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8
ounces mozzarella balls
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1
cucumber, seeded and chopped
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mint, for garnish
Directions
- Begin by cooking your orzo. You can cook the orzo in water in you’d like, I just think cooking it in vegetable broth adds a little bit more flavor. Bring the vegetable broth/water to a boil. Add the orzo and stir. Cook until al dente, about 9 minutes. Drain and set aside.
- While waiting for the orzo to cook, prepare your pesto. Add the basil leaves and walnuts to a food processor and chop.
- Add the minced garlic, lemon, zest, salt and pepper and pulse to combine.
- Add the cheese and process. While the food processor is running, add the olive oil in a steady stream. Process until combined.
- Add the pesto to the orzo while the orzo is still warm (it makes mixing easier). Set aside.
- Toss the halved grape tomatoes with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Preheat a grill pan over medium heat. Place grape tomatoes cut side down on the grill.
- Grill for 1-2 minutes or until charred. Remove from grill and allow to cool.
- Place the corn on the cob on the grill, spraying with cooking spray. Cook for 2 minutes on each side, or until grill marks appear. Set aside and allow to cool. Remove the kernels using a knife. (If using frozen kernels, allow to thaw. Add to a pot over medium high heat and mix until slightly charred).
- Chop your cucumber. I like keeping the skin on, but you can peel your cucumber if you want. Combine with the corn and tomatoes.
- Mix the vegetables until the orzo mixture and add the mozzarella. I quartered the mozzarella balls to make them a bit smaller. You can use normal mozzarella and cut it into bite size pieces if you want but marinated mozzarella adds even more flavor to this recipe.
- Cover and refrigerate for an hour or overnight.
- Before serving, rinse the beefsteak tomatoes. Cut off the top of each and use a spoon to remove the center and all seeds.
- Set on a paper towel, cut side down. When ready to serve, add the orzo mixture to the cut tomatoes. Garnish with additional basil or some mint for an extra pop of flavor.