Chicken Orzo Salad
4

Serves 6 to 8

A colorful and original variation on traditional chicken salad, this dish combines chicken and vegetables — crisp zucchini, grape tomatoes, baby spinach leaves and roasted peppers — with Kalamata olives and orzo pasta. The subtle tartness of the lemon-infused olive oil dressing delicately brings all of the flavors together.

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    Ingredients: 
    • Juice of 2 lemons, about 6 tablespoons, divided
    • 1 1/2 cup water
    • 1 1/2 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts
    • 1 cup orzo or riso pasta
    • 2 zucchini (about 1 pound), cut in half lengthwise and thinly sliced
    • 1 cup grape tomatoes, red or yellow, halved
    • 2 cups packed baby spinach leaves
    • 1/2 cup roasted red or yellow peppers, thinly sliced
    • 1/2 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and roughly chopped
    • 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
    • 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
    • 1/2 teaspoon coarse sea salt
    • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
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    Method: 

    Place 3 tablespoons lemon juice and water in a pan and heat over medium heat. When water is barely simmering, add chicken and cover. Simmer until cooked through, about 15 minutes. Remove from pan, cool and shred into bite-size pieces. Set aside.

    Cook orzo in rapidly boiling water until just tender. Drain under running cold water, then set aside.

    Combine cooked chicken, cooked orzo, zucchini, grape tomatoes, baby spinach, roasted red peppers and olives in a large bowl and mix thoroughly. Add olive oil, remaining lemon juice, salt and pepper and toss to combine thoroughly.

    Nutritional Info: 
    Per Serving:300 calories (70 from fat), 8g total fat, 1.5g saturated fat, 55mg cholesterol, 370mg sodium, 31g carbohydrate (3g dietary fiber, 3g sugar), 27g protein
    Special Diets: 

    Note: We've provided special diet and nutritional information for educational purposes. But remember — we're cooks, not doctors! You should follow the advice of your health-care provider. And since product formulations change, check product labels for the most recent ingredient information. See our Terms of Service.

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