Light And Refreshing Sesame Orzo Salad

Total Time: 9 hrs Preparation Time: 1 hr Cook Time: 8 hrs

Ingredients

• Servings: 10
• 1 1/3 cups orzo pasta, uncooked
• 1 1/2 cups fresh broccoli florets, chopped
• 1/2 cup green onion, sliced
• 1/2 cup red bell pepper, chopped
• 1/2 cup frozen peas, thawed and drained
• 1/2 cup carrot, finely grated
• 1/2 cup fresh mung bean sprouts
• 1 (5 ounce) can water chestnuts, drained
• 1/2 orange
• 2 tablespoons roasted sunflower seeds
• 2 tablespoons light sesame oil
• 3 tablespoons rice vinegar
• 2 tablespoons sesame seeds, toasted
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1/4 teaspoon ginger, minced
• 2 teaspoons brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon soy sauce

Recipe

• 1 cook orzo pasta in boiling water for about 4 minutes.
• 2 rinse with cold water and drain.
• 3 place in a large bowl.
• 4 in a liquid measuring cup with a spout, mix the dressing ingredients together.
• 5 slice the water chestnuts if they weren't presliced, and then cut the slices into quarters to make small pieces.
• 6 add these to the bowl with the pasta.
• 7 add the broccoli, onions, bell pepper, peas, carrots, and sprouts to the bowl, and mix gently but thoroughly.
• 8 add the dressing and mix again.
• 9 refrigerate several hours or overnight.
• 10 before serving, stir the salad up to remix it, and sprinkle sunflower kernals on top.
• 11 thinly slice the orange and then cut the slices in half.
• 12 stand these up around the edge of the bowl as a garnish.
• 13 serve cold or at room temperature.