Southwestern Orzo Salad

This is the salad I've been eating for the past few days -- it's kind of a variation on a lot of other salads I put together, as it combines lots of flavours I like, plus has plenty of protein and fiber. I had orzo on hand, not to mention lots of the other ingredients (half a pint of cherry tomatoes, for example, from the roasted beets salad earlier in the week), so when I came across it in Fitness, I decided to give it a shot.

Southwestern Orzo Salad
(adapted from FItness)
makes 4 servings

1 cup orzo
1/2 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
3/4 cucumber, seeds removed and diced
1 green or red bell pepper (I used green because they're always a lot cheaper)
1/2 cup frozen or fresh corn
1 15 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
4 oz feta cheese, crumbled
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
1/2 lime
1/2 tbsp olive oil
1/2 tbsp red wine vinegar
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1 clove garlic, grated
salt and pepper to taste
cumin
coriander
chili powder
red pepper flakes

Cook orzo according to package directions, but err on slightly less time than the package calls for.

In a mixing bowl, combine halved cherry tomatoes, cucumber, diced bell pepper, corn, black beans, feta cheese, cilantro, and lime juice. Add cooked orzo (allow to cool for at least 5, but don't cool with tap water. I think one thing that makes this recipe nice is that the warm orzo helps extract the flavors from the fresh ingredients, allowing the cilantro to slightly wilt and the cheese to soften and incorporate slightly into the dressing) and combine.

Whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, garlic and Dijon mustard in a separate container. Pour over salad mixture and toss. Add salt and pepper to taste, then a dash of cumin, coriander, chili powder and red pepper flakes, and toss again. This makes 4 big servings, which I ate with a slice of sourdough bread topped with cream cheese and some smoked salmon I received as a gift -- not a normal pairing (and not one I would really recommend) but since this is not crazy calorie-wise, you could certainly eat a small bit of chicken breast or other pairing if you wanted more food intake at a meal.

Nutritional information: 310 calories, 9.1g fat (4.7g saturated), 44g carbohydrates, 15g protein, 9g fiber.