Recipes / Family recipes
Mother's Recipe · Beloved Family Favorite · Printable
Rosa Marina Salad (Orzo Salad)
A chilled sweet fruit-and-pasta salad passed down from the creator's mother.
Ingredients as written
- 16 oz Rosa Marina pasta (orzo)
- 15 oz mandarin oranges, juice reserved
- 16 oz pineapple chunks, juice reserved
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup sugar
- 2½ tablespoons flour
- 1 (8-ounce) container frozen whipped topping (entire container)
Directions
- Cook the Rosa Marina (orzo) according to the package directions.
- Drain and place in a large bowl.
- Add the mandarin oranges and pineapple to the pasta, reserving their juices.
- Combine the reserved fruit juices, sugar, eggs and flour in a saucepan.
- Cook over low heat, stirring until thickened.
- Remove from heat and let cool for 30 minutes.
- Add the cooled sauce to the pasta and fruit; mix to coat.
- Refrigerate overnight.
- Fold in whipped topping before serving.
Family history
The creator learned this Rosa Marina Salad from her mother and absolutely loved it. Rosa Marina is the small rice-shaped pasta commonly sold as orzo. She no longer eats the original salad because of diabetes and food allergies, but wants her mother's recipe preserved exactly as it was made, not silently reformulated.
The creator confirms her mother used an entire small container of frozen whipped topping. The creator confirmed the container was 8 ounces. The total number of servings was not recorded. Because the sauce includes eggs, cook it thoroughly while stirring rather than relying solely on thickening as evidence of safe doneness.