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Loading...If your kids suffer from brown bag boredom, shake things up by offering fun lunchbox alternatives like this playful pasta salad. With California Avocados as the star ingredient, you’ll get great flavors in every bite, and nearly 20 vitamins and minerals and monounsaturated fat. This recipe is also an excellent source (at least 20% of Daily Value) of dietary fiber and folate; a good source (10%-19% of Daily Value) of potassium, vitamin C and iron; and provides nine grams of protein per serving.
California Avocado Orzo Salad
Total Time:
15min
Cook Time:
15min
Nutritional Highlights (per serving)
340
Calories
19
g
Total Fat
36
g
Total Carbs
9
g
Protein
5
mg
Cholesterol
Ingredients
Serves:
6
| 8 | oz. | dried orzo pasta |
| 2 | ripe, Fresh California Avocados, seeded, peeled, and diced into 1/2-in. pieces | |
| 4 | Tbsp. | lemon juice |
| 1 | tsp. | lemon zest |
| 1/3 | cup | Kalamata olives, pitted and cut into quarters |
| 1/3 | cup | crumbled feta cheese |
| 1/3 | English cucumber, diced into 1/2-in. pieces | |
| 1/3 | cup | toasted pine nuts |
| 2 | Tbsp. | fresh dill, chopped |
| 1 | Tbsp. | Extra virgin olive oil |
| Salt and pepper, to taste |
As with all fruits and vegetables, wash avocados before cutting. Check out our tips for how to choose and use California Avocados
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to package directions. Drain, rinse under cold water until the pasta cools, drain again, and transfer to a large bowl.
- In a separate bowl, gently toss the avocados in 2 tablespoons of lemon juice.
- Add the avocados, lemon zest, olives, feta, cucumber, pine nuts and dill into the pasta and mix to combine. Add the remaining lemon juice, olive oil, and season with salt and pepper.
Serving Suggestion: To pack in a lunchbox, place the pasta salad in a container with a tight-fitting lid.
Beverage Pairing: Pair with a glass of water with a refreshing slice of lemon. In a lunchbox, pack with a non-fat or low-fat milk jug or water bottle.
* Large avocados are recommended for this recipe. A large avocado averages about 8 ounces. If using smaller or larger size avocados adjust the quantity accordingly.
NUTRITION INFORMATION
PER SERVING
Calories 340
Total Fat 19 g
Trans Fat 0 g
Saturated Fat 3.5 g
Monounsaturated Fat 10 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 4 g
Total Carbs 36 g
Dietary Fiber 5 g
Total Sugar 3 g
Protein 9 g
Cholesterol 5 mg
Sodium 240 mg
Potassium 370 mg
Vitamin A 143 IU; Vitamin C 9 mg; Calcium 62 mg; Iron 2 mg; Vitamin D 1 IU; Folate 130 mcg; Omega 3 Fatty Acid 0.1g
% Daily Value*: Vitamin A 2%; Vitamin C 15%; Calcium 6% ; Iron 10%
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 Calorie diet. Your Daily Values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
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