Orzo Salad with Mushrooms and Feta

Maybe it's because it is summertime, but for whatever reason I have been craving pasta salad lately.

 Unfortunately, pasta isn't the lowest calorie dish.  The other week for lunch I decided to make a pasta salad with a combination or orzo and chopped, steamed cauliflower.  It gave me enough pasta to satisfy my craving, and the cauliflower gave it the added bulk, without the calories.  Feta cheese and sauteed baby bella mushrooms provided the protein, while cucumbers and green pepper provided the crunch.





Orzo Salad with Mushrooms and Feta

4 oz orzo pasta
1 pound cauliflower florets, steamed and chopped
1 cucumber seeded and chopped
1 green bell pepper seeded and chopped
8 oz baby bella mushrooms
4 Tablespoons Feta cheese
1 Tablespoon olive oil
Lite Balsamic Vinaigrette (I used Ken's)

Cook pasta according to package directions and steam cauliflower until tender.

While they are cooking heat the olive oil in a skillet and saute the mushrooms.  When mushrooms, cauliflower and pasta are cooked and allowed to cool, combine all of the ingredients except the Feta cheese.  I ended up using 4 Tablespoons of the vinaigrette, but you can use more.  Top with Feta cheese.