Recipe: Orzo Turkey Salad with Cherries

This orzo chicken salad with cherries is the perfect picnic salad! Rich and creamy like a traditional chicken or turkey salad, but the cherries and almonds add a nice tartness and crunch! I sub the may you find in most turkey salad recipes with nonfat yogurt. Yogurt is high in protein, calcium, and makes a delicious dressing. I always make this salad after Thanksgiving or Christmas with leftover turkey, but it is great anytime of year.

-From the Kitchen of Chris Freytag

Ingredients you will need:

• 8 oz orzo pasta
• 1/2 cup sliced almonds
• 3/4 cup nonfat plain yogurt
• 2 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley
• 2 teaspoons fresh chopped sage
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper
• 1 1/2 cups cooked turkey meat diced (may use chicken)
• 1 cup diced celery
• 1/2 cup dried cherries
• 1/2 cup diced red onion

1. Boil orzo pasta according to the package directions, drain, and rinse under cool water.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Arrange sliced almonds on cookie sheet and bake 6-8 minutes until they smell fragrant. Do not let them burn, as they do burn easily.
3. In a large mixing bowl, combine yogurt, parsley, sage, salt, and pepper.
4. Add the cooked orzo, toasted almonds, and remaining ingredients to the yogurt mixture and gently fold together until it’s all combined. Serve chilled.