Sunny, warmer days often have us craving bright, colorful dishes bursting with flavor. At LCB, spring’s arrival means our @SterlingChefs are inspired to create flavorful spring salads, soups, appetizers, and entrées featuring the freshest local ingredients. Our chefs hail from some of the finest restaurants in the country and strive to make their ever-evolving menus as healthy as they are satisfying. Not only delicious, their recipes are developed to promote good brain health and physical well-being, as well as being terrifically tasty. After all, variety is the spice of life!
Spring Orzo Salad
Seth Gooby, LCB’s Regional Director of Restaurant Operations, shares his Spring Orzo Salad recipe, a simple yet flavor-packed favorite for “when you can’t wait for summer to unleash your pasta salad!” Try this nutritious one-bowl wonder that will infuse a little gourmet into any mealtime or day.
Dressing:
- 12 tablespoons olive oil
- 5 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon champagne vinegar
- 4 tablespoons chopped fresh tarragon (split)
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice (approximately ½ of lemon)
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
Ingredients:
- 1 cup orzo (rice-shaped pasta; about 3 ounces)
- 2 cups halved grape tomatoes
- 2 6-ounce jars marinated artichoke hearts, drained
- 1 cup coarsely chopped pitted kalamata olives
- 2/3 cup dried currants
- 3 tablespoons drained capers
- 1 can of drained cannellini beans
- 1 cup of toasted pine nuts
Directions:
- Combine oil, vinegar, 2 tablespoons of tarragon, lemon juice, and mustard in a small bowl; whisk to blend. Season dressing to taste with salt and pepper.
- Cook orzo in a large pot of boiling salted water until just tender but still firm to bite. Drain. Rinse under cold water to cool; drain well. Transfer orzo to a large bowl.
- Add tomatoes, remainder of tarragon, artichoke hearts, olives, currants, capers, pine nuts and beans. Stir in dressing and toss to coat. Season salad to taste with salt and pepper and serve.
Pro Tip: Serve with your favorite grilled chicken recipe for a sensational summer entrée!
See even more mouth-watering dishes like this by following @TheSterlingChefs on Instagram. It’s a treasure trove of tasty dishes that are developed by LCB Senior Living’s in-house chefs, and proudly served to our residents. Providing delicious, nutritious, five-star meals is just one way that we ensure our residents are thriving!