Fennel Orzo Salad

Heidi Swanson contributed this recipe to Food and Wine. I loved this recipe. The orzo and fennel and everything was just yummy. It was great to have for lunch and you can add small feta cubes for a different vibe just to mix things up.

I substituted bread crumbs for the bread and used a food processor because I don't have a large enough mortar and pestle.

8 ounces orzo (1 1/2 cups), preferably whole-wheat
One 4-by-4-inch, 1-inch-thick slice of country bread, crust removed and bread cubed
3 tablespoons white wine vinegar
1 teaspoon coriander seeds
1 garlic clove
Kosher salt
3 tablespoons capers, drained and rinsed
1/2 cup roasted almonds, chopped
2 scallions, chopped
Fronds from 1 leafy fennel bulb (1/2 cup), finely chopped (see Note)
10 pitted black olives, such as kalamata, chopped
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 small head of radicchio—halved, cored and shredded (4 cups)

In a large saucepan of salted boiling water, cook the orzo until al dente; drain and transfer to a large bowl.

Meanwhile, in a small bowl, soak the bread in the vinegar. In a small skillet, toast the coriander seeds, stirring, until fragrant, 2 minutes. Transfer the seeds to a mortar. Add the garlic and 1/2 teaspoon of salt and pound with a pestle until a paste forms. One at a time, pound in the capers, almonds, scallions, fennel fronds and olives, until the mixture is chunky.

Pound in the soaked bread, then pound in the olive oil, 2 tablespoons at a time.

Add the dressing and radicchio to the orzo, season with salt and toss well.

NOTES You can finely chop the fennel bulb and add it to the orzo as well, if desired.