Chickpea & Orzo Salad with Piquillo Pepper Vinaigrette

March 5th, 2010 | Filed under: entree, recipe, sides & bites | Tags: , , , , ,

Chickpea & Orzo Salad with Piquillo Pepper Vinaigrette

I love recipes that taste better the next day and the day after. I bring my lunch to work, so if I can make a big batch of something on Monday and enjoy it for the rest of the week, I’m happy. This is one of those salads. The chickpeas and orzo absorbs the tangy, peppery vinaigrette until they’re tangy and peppery themselves. A little slice of prosciutto (or Serrano ham if you can afford it) and it’s my idea of a perfect lunch.

Chickpea & Orzo Salad with Piquillo Pepper Vinaigrette

Chickpea & Orzo Salad with Piquillo Pepper Vinaigrette

1/3 cup olive oil
3 tbsp. sherry vinegar
4 piquillo peppers (or 2 – 3 roasted red peppers)
1 tsp. salt

1/2 lb. orzo (preferably whole wheat)
2 15 oz. cans chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1 bunch chives, chopped (I used garlic chives)
8 slices prosciutto (or Serrano) ham

Place the oil, vinegar, salt and peppers in a food processor or blender and blend until smooth. Set aside.

Cook the orzo until al dente, then drain and run with cold water to stop the cooking. Place the orzo, chickpeas and chives in a bowl and toss with the vinaigrette. Let marinate for 2 – 3 hours (optional).

Serve topped with a slice of prosciutto or 2.

Makes 4 servings as an entree or 8 as a side.

9 Comments on “Chickpea & Orzo Salad with Piquillo Pepper Vinaigrette”

  1. 1 Maninas said at 7:21 am on March 5th, 2010:

    Stunning photos. You’ve made me crave some prosciutto now.

  2. 2 CookiePie said at 12:08 pm on March 9th, 2010:

    Ooooh – that looks divine.

  3. 3 Aubrey said at 1:18 pm on March 9th, 2010:

    Yum, that looks delicious! I love anything with chickpeas :)

  4. 4 Velva said at 7:55 pm on March 9th, 2010:

    I agree this is a perfect lunch. I like doing the same thing, I make a big meal on sunday with the idea that I can carry leftovers the next day.

    Great post. Thanks for sharing.

  5. 5 Liz said at 8:36 am on March 11th, 2010:

    That looks wonderful! I need to start making more salads that will last me through the work week. I also have never cooked with chickpeas before and really want to try.

  6. 6 lolacooks said at 8:29 pm on March 17th, 2010:

    This is great! I have both chickpeas and orzo in the pantry and been waiting for an opportunity to use them!

  7. 7 Hillary said at 9:46 am on April 15th, 2010:

    I’m eating this for lunch right now! My is not as pretty as yours but it’s very tasty! Thanks for posting this!

  8. 8 foodblog: paules ki(t)chen » Blog Archiv » • Orzo Nudelsalat mit Kichererbsen said at 1:49 pm on May 2nd, 2010:

    [...] und das dazugehörige Foto verführte wieder zum Nachmachen. Das Rezept stammt ursprünglich von bitchin’ camero. Ich inspirierte mich an beiden Quellen und gab noch ein wenig von mir [...]

  9. 9 Weekly Dinner Menu: 5/17/10 | Food for My Family said at 6:15 am on May 17th, 2010:

    [...] with Pecans and Goat Cheese Wednesday – Fried Beans with Feta, Sorrel, and Sumac Thursday– Chickpea & Orzo Salad with Piquillo Pepper Vinaigrette Friday – Orange Thai Beef Skewers & Orzo with Peppers and [...]

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