Creamy Chicken and Chorizo Pasta
Tender chicken and crispy chorizo tossed through tortiglioni in a smoky, creamy sauce with Parmesan and fresh herbs. A satisfying midweek pasta that comes together in about 30 minutes.
A bright, fresh orzo salad with salty feta, crisp cucumber, and sun-dried tomatoes, dressed in lemon and za'atar. Ready in under 20 minutes and perfect for warm days.
This orzo salad is one of those things that looks more impressive than it is to put together. The orzo cooks in about 10 minutes, and while it's cooling you can get everything else ready. The combination of ingredients is straightforward but it works well: the sun-dried tomatoes bring a concentrated, slightly sweet flavour, the cucumber keeps things fresh and crunchy, and the feta adds a salty creaminess that ties it all together.
Za'atar is what gives this salad its character. The blend of dried herbs, sesame seeds, and sumac adds an earthy, lemony note that you wouldn't get from any other spice.
The dressing is just olive oil, lemon juice, and za'atar whisked together, and it's better for being simple. A good extra virgin olive oil makes a difference here, so use one you actually like the taste of.
One thing worth knowing about orzo is that it benefits from being rinsed under cold water after cooking. It stops the grains clumping together and cools them down quickly, which means you can get the salad assembled without having to wait around. Make sure it's fully cool before you add the feta, or the cheese will start to melt into the dressing rather than sitting in neat cubes.
This salad serves four as a side dish or two as a light lunch. It's a good one for taking to a picnic or a barbecue because it travels well and doesn't need to be kept particularly cold. The flavours are also at their best at room temperature rather than straight from the fridge, which is handy. If you're making it ahead, hold back the cucumber and add it just before serving to keep it crisp. The parsley and chives can go in early without any issues.
It's the kind of thing you can put on the table and let people help themselves, and it goes with most things.
Serve this salad at room temperature for the best flavour. It works well alongside grilled chicken, lamb chops, or falafel, and it's substantial enough to stand on its own as a light lunch. A few extra fresh herbs scattered over the top before serving makes it look the part.
For a gluten-free version, swap the orzo for a gluten-free orzo or use cooked quinoa instead, which works particularly well with the za'atar dressing. You can also add halved cherry tomatoes if you don't have sun-dried tomatoes to hand, though the flavour will be lighter. For a vegan version, simply leave out the feta or replace it with a plant-based alternative.
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