Tomato, Orzo and Chickpea Salad
Share
- ✉
-
Author Notes: I love making pasta with a raw sauce of fresh tomatoes and a few other ingredients. I took the same concept and created this pasta salad adding a few other ingredients which can withstand the heat. Served cold or at "picnic" temperature it's an inexpensive great side or a wonderful vegetarian meal and can easily be doubled to serve a big crowd.
Marinating the tomatoes for 2 to 3 hours creates the dressing. - inpatskitchen
Makes about 8 cups
- 4 cups seeded diced tomatoes
- 1 to 2 cloves garlic crushed in a garlic press
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cups cooked and rinsed garbanzo beans (or one 14-15 ounce can, drained and rinsed)
- 1 cup uncooked orzo
- 1 cup diced English cucumber
- 1/2 cup sliced Kalamata olives
- 1/2 cup chopped flat leaf parsley
- 1/4 cup sliced fresh basil leaves
- Salt and pepper to taste
- In a medium bowl combine the tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, red wine vinegar, crushed red pepper, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Park the mixture on the counter for 2 to 3 hours.
- Cook the pasta according to package directions.Drain and rinse.
- After the 2 to 3 hours "marinating" time, combine the tomatoes, garbanzo beans, cucumber, orzo and olives. Stir in the parsley and basil. Re-season with salt and pepper. Chill until ready to take to the picnic.
- This recipe was entered in the contest for Your Best Cheap Feast
- This recipe was entered in the contest for Your Best Picnic Dish
Tags: Entrees, travels well, Vegetarian
More Great Recipes
Share a Recipe
Enter one of our contests, or share that great thing you made for dinner last night.
Add a Recipe
2 months ago Laura Abbasi
My husband and I gobbled up this fresh, delicious salad. The only changes we made were to use canned fire roasted tomatoes and we did not use olives. We were too impatient to let the dish sit as long as it should have and it was still fantastic, although I do believe it would have benefitted from "marinating" a longer. Will definitely be making this again. Can't wait for picnic season!
2 months ago inpatskitchen
Thanks Laura! Yep.. when the tomatoes are at their peak it's fantastic!!
3 months ago sdebrango
Suzanne is a trusted source on General Cooking.
This salad contains everything you need all in one delicious salad. I love orzo!!
3 months ago inpatskitchen
Thanks suzanne!
almost 2 years ago GiGi26
This looks wonderful and sounds really refreshing. Will be trying it soon. Garbonzo Beans are one of very few legumes my other half likes! Then again I may not share. :-)
almost 2 years ago GiGi26
Garbanzo Beans...........ooops typeo
almost 2 years ago inpatskitchen
It really is refreshing...thanks for the comment! Hope he enjoys..
almost 2 years ago Sagegreen
Love that this is vegetarian and so loaded with protein, too. Fresh veggies add so much.
almost 2 years ago inpatskitchen
Thank you...and I would have tagged vegan save for the fact that my orzo was made in a plant that uses eggs.
almost 2 years ago sdebrango
Suzanne is a trusted source on General Cooking.
There ae so many beautiful and creative salads I think this is a whole meal. So beautiful and I am sure absoulutely delicious.
almost 2 years ago inpatskitchen
Thanks so much!
almost 2 years ago aargersi
Abbie is a trusted source on General Cooking.
I would eat all of this and not share with the other picnic-ers
almost 2 years ago inpatskitchen
Well we're no sharing...but I am experimenting with some chicken to serve on the "side"! Thank you !