Everyone likes a good salad and believe me this salad is a really good one. With a perfect balance of orzo, which is a kind of pasta that is shaped like rice, steamed red lentils, loads of leafy greens with a light lime vinaigrette, this salad comes very close to being a perfect salad for a cool spring day. It is a complete meal in itself, though you can serve it as a side or a starter to a more substantial meal. I kept this salad totally vegetarian though you can add come grilled meat to it if you are a staunch meat lover like my husband!
Loaded with parsley, capers, oregano and feta, this salad does not skimp on flavours. This salad does require a bit of prep work but is a pretty quick salad to assemble once you have your orzo and lentils ready and cooked. I soaked the lentils for about 2 hours before I was ready to make my salad. Once the lentils are tenders, you just need to steam them for couple of minutes in the microwave. I used frozen shelled edamame, that I cooked in the microwave for a couple minutes too. As for orzo, you need to cook it according to the directions on the box and takes about 8-10 minutes of boiling to be done to perfection. So, with a little bit of planning, you will have your perfect salad in no time at all.
Ingredients:
1 cup orzo, cooked according to the directions on the package
1 cup red lentils soaked for 2 -3 hours
1/2 cup shelled edamame
1 small red onion, diced
1 small tomato, diced
2 stalks celery sliced thinly
1 cup parsley leaves chopped
4 cups baby spring greens or any lettuce of your choice
2 tbsp capers
1/4 cup crumbled feta
Dressing
1/4 cup lime juice, about 2 limes
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 scant tsp dried oregano
salt and black pepper to taste
Serves 4 as a main course
Directions:
Rinse and dry your lettuce.
Steam the lentils and edamame in the microwave separately for about 2 minutes each, till they are tender.
Put your pasta in the boiling water, and while your pasta is boiling assemble your vinaigrette.
Pour lime juice and olive oil in a deep bowl and whisk vigorously till the two form an emulsion or alternately blend them quickly in the blender. Add salt pepper and dried oregano.
Take a salad bowl and add everything except lettuce to it.
Pour the dressing over top and mix gently.
To serve, put about 1 cup of lettuce in a bowl or a plate and scoop about 1/4 of the orzo and lentil salad on top.
Enjoy your hearty salad!
Meri Rasoi Se 
