Cranberry-Orange Orzo Salad Recipe

Dinner time! Check out this very colorful & healthy side dish just in time for fall. The sweet and tangy cranberry dressing complements the orange in the recipe. This can be a side dish or an alternative meal option for vegetarians!

Cranberry-Orange Orzo Salad Recipe 

Ingredients

4 oz. orzo
1 navel orange (about 7 oz.)
2 tbsp. cranberry sauce
2 tbsp. olive oil
1 tbsp. white wine vinegar
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
Pinch chili flakes
4 cups/4 oz. baby arugula
1/4 cup/1 oz. chopped toasted walnuts
1/4 cup/1 oz. dried cranberries

Directions

1. Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
2. Meanwhile, trim top and bottom ends of orange. Stand fruit on one of the cut ends; remove outer peel, following natural curve of fruit to remove bitter white pith. Working over a bowl to catch juices, cut between membranes to release segments; set aside.
3. Whisk together cranberry sauce, oil, 2 tbsp orange juice (from segments), vinegar, garlic, salt, pepper and chili flakes; toss with pasta.
4. Stir in arugula, orange segments, walnuts and dried cranberries.

Tips:

• If you don’t have a navel orange, use 2 clementine or mandarin oranges.
• Substitute pecans, pumpkin seeds or almonds for walnuts.

Makes 4 servings. Per serving: 277 calories, 12 g fat, 1 g saturated fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 166 mg sodium, 39 g carbohydrate, 3 g fiber, 13 g sugars, 5 g protein

A PastaFits.org original recipe.

More Fall Recipes:

• Brussels Sprouts, Dried Cranberries, Caramelized Onion & Sage Penne Pasta Recipe
• Soft Brown Sugar Cookies
• Jello Brain Food Recipe
• Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Spice Bread  
• Pumpkin Spiced Latte - Hot & Cold
• Easy Dinner in a Pumpkin
• Baked Vanilla Cinnamon Apples
• Zombie Food
• 15 Pumpkin Recipes

Brussels Sprouts, Dried Cranberries, Caramelized Onion & Sage Penne Pasta Recipe

Fall screams comfort food! So many of us have been waiting for cooler weather to make a batch of our favorite comfort food. Pasta dishes are included in this list. One way to make pasta dishes more for fall is to add in ingredients that go with the season, like cranberries! Embrace the flavors of fall and the up and coming Thanksgiving with our festive penne recipe. It makes a great side dish for Thanksgiving or as the star of the show in a fall weekday dinner or lunch.

Brussels Sprouts, Dried Cranberries, Caramelized Onion & Sage Penne Pasta

Ingredients

2 Tbsp. vegetable oil, divided
4 cups/1 lb. sliced onion
2 Tbsp. sliced sage leaves
¼ cup/½ oz. dried cranberries (preferably no sugar added)
4 oz. penne
2 cups/9 oz. Brussels sprouts, halved

Directions:

1. Heat a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add 1 TBSP of the oil and all of the onions. Sprinkle with salt.
2. Slowly cook, stirring from time to time until golden (about 30 minutes). Stir in the sage leaves and cranberries.
3. While the onions are caramelizing, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the penne according to package directions. Drain and reserve.
4. Also while the onions are cooking, bring a small saucepan of salted water to a boil and cook the Brussels sprouts until just softened (about 5 minutes). Drain.
5. Remove the onion mixture from the pan to a bowl. Heat the same pan over medium high heat. Add the remaining 1 TBSP oil and sauté the Brussels sprouts until browned (about 3 minutes). Stir in the penne and the onion mixture.
6. Adjust seasoning to taste with salt and pepper.

An exclusive PastaFits.org recipe.

Makes 4 servings

More Fall Recipes:

• Brussels Sprouts, Dried Cranberries, Caramelized Onion & Sage Penne Pasta Recipe
• Soft Brown Sugar Cookies
• Jello Brain Food Recipe
• Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Spice Bread  
• Pumpkin Spiced Latte - Hot & Cold
• Easy Dinner in a Pumpkin
• Baked Vanilla Cinnamon Apples
• Zombie Food
• 15 Pumpkin Recipes