Greek Chicken Orzo Salad with Fresh Veggies

Looking for Spring
I had to drive south to find spring-way too cold and rainy up north.

"Spring Is"
by Sharon Harris
spring is
a bough of lilacs,
tenderly fragrant,
nodding in the wind
with their perfume drifting
away across the world
like sweet music
scattered by the breeze.

Previously published in 1986 in Newsletter Inago

Greek Chicken Orzo Salad with Fresh Veggies

Cook's Notes: Greek flavored chicken with orzo, fresh spinach, cucumbers, and tomatoes make this a lunch or dinner time WINNER! Great for parties, picnics, and potlucks. The orzo is cooked al dente, and the feta cheese pairs well for this recipe. Since this is a ‘pasta salad’, there are no rules what substitutions or additions you can make. Other add ins include: fresh basil, green onions, red bell peppers, zucchini, marinated artichokes, and olives. I used English cucumbers and grape tomatoes but later on in season if you have a garden full of regular cucumbers (or zucchini) and regular tomatoes, go for it. This salad will help you enjoy the bounty of your garden.

Serve this salad as a side recipe for six or four if a main meal. Recipe was inspired by averiecooks.com

Ingredients:

• 1/2  pound orzo, cooked according to package directions and drained about 4 cups, cooked
• 2 tablespoons olive oil 
• 2 large chicken breasts,diced small
• 1 cup sweet onions,  diced small
• Purchased Greek Seasoning  

or homemade seasoning recipe below

• 3 garlic cloves, minced 
• 3 handfuls of spinach with stems removed 
• 1/2 English cucumber, diced small
• 1 cup mini sweet peppers, diced 
• 1- 1/2 cups sliced cherry or grape tomatoes
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest, or to taste
• 2 to 3 tablespoons lemon juice, or to taste
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 6 ounces crumbled feta cheese or mini marinated mozzarella balls (deli section)  

Directions:

• To a large pot, add the orzo and cook according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
• In a bowl mix chicken with 1-2 tablespoons of Greek seasoning. 
• While orzo is cooking, to a large skillet add 2 tablespoons olive oil, peppers, onions, and seasoned chicken pieces. Cook chicken and stir constantly. Last few minutes of cooking add in garlic and spinach.  Cook until spinach is wilted. 
• In a large salad bowl add orzo, chicken mixture, cucumbers, tomatoes, lemon zest, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and stir well to incorporate. Add in feta cheese. 
• To punch up the flavor I added 2 tablespoons of prepared Greek Dressing to the pasta salad, all depends on your taste preference. Cover with plastic wrap and chill a few hours before serving.  

Greek Seasoning Blend 
Bonus points for making your own. It's cost saving and avoids unhealthy chemicals or additives. 
Ingredients

• 1-1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried mint
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/2 teaspoon dried marjoram
• 1/2 teaspoon dried minced onion
• 1/4 teaspoon dried minced garlic

Directions:

Mix well and store in a jar with a screw type lid.