Pasta salad with feta cheese, spinach and gremolata

When the temperatures are soaring and you don’t want to spend too much time in the kitchen, Michael Diacono has some great recipes for pasta salad. In this one he combines feta cheese with spinach and olives and tops it with gremolata. 

Pasta salad with feta cheese, spinach and gremolata

Ingredients

  • 500g orzo pasta
  • 2 large handfuls spinach
  • 3 large handfuls breadcrumbs
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 3 tbsp pine nuts
  • 1 tbsp capers
  • 3 tbsp black olives, pitted
  • 200g feta cheese
  • Handful basil
  • Salt and pepper

Method

1.Boil the orzo until al dente and allow to cool.

2.To make the gremolata, heat the oil in the pan and fry the garlic clove.

3.Add the breadcrumbs and cook until golden, tossing every now and then to prevent burning.

4.Mix together with the spinach.

5.Fry the pine nuts in a little olive oil until golden, being careful not to let them burn.

6.Add to the salad with the spring onions, capers and olives.

7.Add the fresh basil and the feta cheese.

8.Season with salt, pepper, olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

9.Mix well and top with the gremolata.

10.Serve immediately so that the spinach doesn’t wilt.

This recipe first appeared on Gourmet Today TV, aired on TVM on 26 August, 2016.