Tropical Orzo Fruit Delight

Ingredients

- 1 cup orzo pasta
- 1 cup pineapple tidbits, drained
- 1 cup mandarin orange segments, drained
- 1/2 cup maraschino cherries, halved
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 egg
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 cup whipped topping
- 1/2 cup reserved fruit juice

Instructions

1. Cook the Orzo
Boil a pot of salted water on the stove. Add 1 cup of orzo pasta and cook for about 8 minutes or until al dente. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking. Drain and set aside to cool.

2. Prepare the Fruit Base
In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine 1/4 cup granulated sugar and 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour. Slowly add the 1/2 cup of reserved fruit juice while stirring to ensure no lumps form.

3. Create the Custard Mixture
In a small bowl, whisk together 1 egg and 1 egg yolk. Gradually add this egg mixture to the saucepan, stirring continuously. Cook for about 5 minutes or until the mixture thickens and coats the back of a spoon. Remove from heat and allow it to cool slightly.

4. Mix the Fruits
In a large mixing bowl, combine 1 cup pineapple tidbits, 1 cup mandarin orange segments, and 1/2 cup halved maraschino cherries. Gently fold in the cooked orzo pasta.

5. Combine and Chill
Pour the cooled custard mixture over the fruit and orzo mixture. Gently mix to combine all elements evenly. Once combined, fold in 1 cup of whipped topping until the salad is creamy and well-blended.

6. Chill and Serve
Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to meld. Serve chilled as a refreshing dessert.

Preparation & Cooking Times

- PT15M
15 minutes
- Cooking Time: PT10M
10 minutes

Total Time

- PT1H25M
1 hour and 25 minutes

Type of Dish

- Dessert

Keywords

- Orzo salad
- Tropical dessert
- Fruit salad
- Pineapple dessert
- Mandarin orange salad
- Maraschino cherry recipe
- Chilled dessert
- Sweet pasta dish
- Easy fruit dessert
- Stove-top dessert

Recipe Yield

- Feeds 4 adults

Calories

- 1100 calories (total for entire dish)

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