Fregola is a toasted semolina pasta that is very popular in Sardinia. You can substitute any small shape pasta, such as orzo, which it resembles, but do make the effort to seek it out at a specialty food shop. Its nutty flavor makes this pasta salad really unusual and delicious.–Giada De Laurentiis
LC Unusual and Delicious Note
In the note above, the author of this recipe, Giada De Laurentiis, explains that it’s the flavor of the fregola pasta that makes this salad so “unusual and delicious.” We think she might be being a little modest. The fregola is a unique addition, sure, but just look at the rest of the ingredients. Fresh herbs. Fennel seeds. Homemade orange oil, for crying out loud. Every component of this salad is unusual and delicious, down to the last mouthful.
Fregola Salad with Fresh Citrus
Ingredients
- For the orange oil
- 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- Zest of 1 orange, preferably organic
- For the salad
- 8 cups homemade chicken stock or low-sodium canned chicken broth
- 1 pound fregola pasta (or orzo)
- 1 orange
- 1 pink grapefruit
- 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup chopped mint leaves
- 1/4 cup chopped basil leaves
- 1/2 tablespoon fennel seeds, lightly toasted
- 1 teaspoon coarse salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Directions
- Make the orange oil
- 1. Combine the olive oil and the orange zest in a small bowl and set aside.
- Make the salad
- 2. In a large saucepan over high heat bring the chicken broth to a boil. Add the pasta and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender but still firm to the bite, 10 to 12 minutes.
- 3. Drain the pasta and turn it onto a large baking sheet. Spread it out into a single layer and let cool for 10 minutes.
- 4. Meanwhile, using a small knife, cut all the peel and pith off the orange and grapefruit. Holding the fruit over a large bowl to catch any juice, cut between the membranes to release the segments into the bowl. Add the onion, mint, basil, fennel seeds, salt, pepper, and cooled fregola pasta to the segments and juice in the bowl.
- 5. Add the reserved orange oil to the pasta. Toss all the ingredients and serve.
Recipe Testers Reviews
This is an absolutely fantastic salad. It’s simple to prepare, but bold in flavor (even subbing in the orzo). The citrus zest in the olive oil gives the whole dish a pleasing zing. The red onions, fresh herbs, and fennel seeds provide appealing textural and flavor contrasts. This is a standout dish that I will be making for a long time to come.
Simple and fresh, that’s how I describe this salad. Sad to say, I couldn’t find fregola pasta. I substituted orzo. How easy could this be? You cook the pasta, cut grapefruit and orange segments, assemble the other ingredients, and toss. The citrus and red onion flavors give such great freshness to the dish. I served this for lunch, and everyone requested seconds. I love it when I don’t have to store leftovers.
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Susan Hillery
Fabulous. A real riff on couscous and pasta salads. Please, if I can urge you to find fregola, do. The texture and flavor are so unique that without it, I feel the salad would be compromised. Fregola is nutty, wheaty, and toasty with a chewy, al dente quality that’s so satisfying. The citrus, herbs, and spices all contribute to a truly unique and delicious salad. Buon apetito.