Summertime Greek Orzo Salad

If you're looking for a cool and refreshing summertime salad that takes no time to make, search no further.  Big bold flavors of feta, lemon and extra virgin olive oil combine with delicate orzo pasta to make a delicious side salad that will wow your taste buds with every bite.

Ingredients:
1 16 oz. box orzo
2 cups frozen peas
1/4-1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 lemons, zested and juiced
1 tablespoon honey
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
3 ounces crumbled feta cheese
fresh chopped mint leaves

In a large pot of boiling, salted water, cook orzo pasta approximately 8-10 minutes.  In the last few minutes of cooking, add the frozen peas.  Drain and add pasta and peas back into the pot.

Meanwhile, combine the minced garlic, oil, honey and lemon juice in a microwave safe bowl.  Heat in the microwave at 50% power just long enough to heat through and infuse the oil with the garlic flavor.

Add the oil mixture (your call on how much you add), dried oregano, lemon zest and feta cheese to the pasta and peas. Mix thoroughly but gently to combine. Refrigerate mixture until ready to serve.  Shortly before service, stir in chopped mint leaves if desired.

I made this salad to bring to a friends backyard bbq and I'm happy to report that everyone loved it and many went back for seconds.  To make this a complete meal, add some cooked bbq shrimp and maybe some seared scallops.  I think that would be awesome as well.  Have fun with the recipe and play around with it.  I'd love to hear what you'd do to make this recipe you own.  Enjoy!