Greek Orzo Salad With Chickpeas & Artichoke Hearts - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1/2 cup orzo pasta or 1/2 cup other tiny pasta
1 1/2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 garlic clove, crushed and peeled
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/8 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
1 (14 ounce) can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
1 (7 ounce) can chickpeas, rinsed
1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese
2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill or 2 teaspoons dried dill
1 1/2 tablespoons chopped of fresh mint or 1 1/2 teaspoons dried mint
1 large tomatoes, chopped (deseeded)
2 cups baby spinach leaves
OPTIONAL
1 teaspoon all purpose Greek seasoning (I recommend Konriko as it has no MSG)

Preparation

Bring a small saucepan of water to a boil. Cook orzo until just tender, about 9 minutes, or according to package directions. Drain and rinse under cold water until cool. Press to remove excess water. Transfer to a medium bowl and toss with oil.
Mash garlic and salt into a paste with the back of a spoon in a medium bowl. Whisk in lemon juice and pepper. Add the cooked orzo, artichokes, chickpeas, feta, dill and mint; toss gently to combine. Add tomatoes and toss again.
Divide spinach between 2 plates and top with the salad.