Radicchio and orzo pasta salad

Great as a pack-and-go picnic dish or wonderful as a 20-minute midweek meal, this radicchio and orzo pasta salad is as versatile as it is delicious.

recipe
About Recipe
Radicchio and orzo pasta salad

Great as a pack-and-go picnic dish or wonderful as a 20-minute midweek meal, this radicchio and orzo pasta salad is as versatile as it is delicious.

Ingredients :
  • 250g orzo pasta (or other small pasta shapes)
  • 6 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 red onion, sliced
  • 1 fennel bulb, thinly sliced, any fronds reserved for garnish
  • 1 tbsp fennel seeds, crushed in a pestle and mortar
  • 300g radicchio, shredded
  • 100g sultanas
  • 90g toasted pine nuts
  • 2 oranges
  • 1 tbsp sherry vinegar
  • 1 tbsp honey
Directions :
  1. Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil. Add the orzo and cook until al dente (tender but with bite) according to the pack instructions. Drain and rinse under cold water, then transfer to a bowl and stir in 2 tbsp of the olive oil.

  2. Heat another tablespoon of olive oil in a large pan over a medium heat. Add the onion and fennel and fry for 4-5 minutes until slightly softened. Add the crushed fennel seeds and cook for 2-3 minutes. Add to the bowl with the orzo and toss in the radicchio, sultanas and pine nuts.

  3. Using a small serrated knife, remove the skin from the oranges and cut out the segments. Squeeze the juice from the rest of the orange pith into a bowl, then whisk in the remaining 3 tbsp olive oil, the sherry vinegar and honey, and season with salt and pepper. Add the orange segments and the dressing to the bowl of pasta and toss well (see pack-and-go tips). Sprinkle with any reserved fennel fronds to serve.