Pesto Orzo with Salmon

 Inspired by a Pampered Chef recipe, I modified this slightly to create
 a simple pasta side dish for chicken, fish, or shrimp.

1 cup dry orzo
2 plum tomatoes
1/2 c. green onions
1/3 c. black olives
2 1/2 Tbsp. Pesto
1 tsp. lemon zest

For fish:

16-20 oz salmon, skin removed 

4-5 tsp pesto

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Cook orzo until al dente, drain well. Meanwhile, seed and chop tomatoes, slice green onions with the green tops, slice black olives and place into an 8 inch square baking dish. Add the cooked orzo and stir well. Add the pesto and stir until well mixed. Sprinkle lemon zest on top.

Top Orzo with salmon cut into 4-5 pieces. Top salmon with additional pesto (about 1 tsp per piece). 

Cover dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake for about 13-20 minutes or until fish flakes. 

This also makes a great side dish without fish and can be baked at almost any temperature.

Makes 5 servings.