Cheers to summer time crammed with flavorful pasta salads that hold everybody coming again for seconds. I believe pasta salads can get a foul rap for being gloppy and a bit tasteless, so it has been my mission over the previous few years to carry you contemporary, stunning, flavorful pasta salads you could be ok with consuming (and serving to friends!)
This herby Italian orzo salad is a scrumptious pasta tackle my Italian Chopped Brussels Sprouts Salad, which simply so occurs to be probably the most widespread salad recipes on Formidable Kitchen. One chew and also you’ll actually be hooked — no less than Abra and I had been once we made it just a few weeks again. This orzo salad has all the pieces you would ever need: contemporary herbs and veggies, tender orzo pasta, salty feta cheese, and loads of savory parts from olives and pepperoncini.
Okay, anybody else drooling simply fascinated about this combo?? Similar.
The orzo salad is tossed in a light-weight Italian dressing made with tremendous easy elements and the flavors tie all the pieces collectively so fantastically. Like most pasta salads, this one retains within the fridge for days so you possibly can simply make it forward of time for a celebration or retailer leftovers for meal prep. Get this one in your summer time menu ASAP!
Components on this Italian orzo salad
This attractive, herby Italian orzo salad is all concerning the scrumptious mix-ins. We’re packing in contemporary veggies, plus a number of enjoyable additions like pepperoncini and olives! Right here’s what you’ll have to make it:
- Orzo: the bottom of this pasta salad is orzo! I like the little pasta form and the way simple it’s to scoop it up with the remainder of the elements.
- Veggies: we’re loading this orzo salad with cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, pink bell pepper and pink onion.
- Combine-ins: right here’s the place the salad will get further scrumptious. You’ll combine in kalamata and inexperienced olives, pepperoncini and crumbled feta cheese for salty, savory goodness.
- Herbs: basil and parsley give this orzo salad an exquisite freshness. Don’t skip them!
- For the dressing: we’re making a light-weight Italian dressing with olive oil, contemporary lemon juice, garlic, dijon mustard, dried oregano, salt and pepper.
Wait, what are pepperoncini?
Though “pepperoncini” feels like a mini pepperoni, it’s truly a kind of pepper. Pepperoncini are yellow-green and look just like banana peppers, however are thinner and infrequently a bit spicier. You may often discover them jarred close to olives on the grocery retailer! In case you’re delicate to spice or aren’t a fan of banana peppers, be at liberty to omit the pepperoncini on this recipe.
Simple methods to customise
You may completely combine and match elements to make this Italian orzo salad your personal! Listed here are some suggestions:
- Select your pasta: I like utilizing orzo for this recipe however pearl couscous, bowties, and even fusilli could be nice. If you wish to get actual wild toss all the pieces along with your fav tortellini!
- Have enjoyable with mix-ins: you possibly can actually get inventive with the veggies and mix-ins right here. Black olives, artichokes hearts, salami, cubed provolone, shaved parmesan, and even mozzarella pearls.
- Add a lift of protein: this orzo salad could be scrumptious with grilled rooster, chickpeas or white beans!
- Go gluten free: merely use your favourite gluten free orzo or pasta form to maintain your complete recipe gluten free.
Two methods to prepare dinner orzo
We’ve established that orzo is quite a lot of pasta, not rice, however you possibly can truly prepare dinner it each methods!
- The pasta methodology: I usually prepare dinner orzo utilizing this conventional pasta methodology. You’ll boil a big pot of water, add a pinch of salt, stir in orzo, and prepare dinner till al dente about 6-8 minutes. As soon as orzo is completed cooking, drain it and set it apart within the colander.
- The rice methodology: You too can prepare dinner it the identical approach you prepare dinner rice. In a pot carry the orzo and double the quantity of water to a boil, decrease the warmth, cowl your pot, and let the orzo simmer till all the liquid is absorbed.
Make this orzo salad forward of time
Most likely what I like most about pasta salads is that they’re SO simple to prep forward of time! A number of days forward of time you possibly can both:
- Chop up your whole veggies, prepare dinner your pasta and make your dressing, then retailer all the pieces in separate containers within the fridge till you’re able to assemble it.
- OR make the entire Italian orzo salad forward of time and retailer it within the fridge till you’re able to take pleasure in it!
Storing suggestions
Retailer any leftover Italian orzo salad in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 5 days. Get pleasure from straight from the fridge!
Extra salad recipes you’ll love
Get all of my salad recipes right here!
I hope you like this herby Italian orzo salad! In case you make it make sure you go away a remark and a score so I understand how you favored it. Get pleasure from, xo!
Herby Olive Italian Orzo Salad
Lovely herby Italian orzo salad crammed with crunchy veggies, savory olives and scrumptious feta crumbles. All the things will get tossed in a light-weight home made Italian dressing for the right summer time lunch or dinner that is simple to customise. Deliver this contemporary Italian orzo salad to your subsequent BBQ!
- For the dressing:
-
1/4
cup
olive oil -
3
tablespoons
lemon juice -
1
clove
garlic, finely minced -
1
teaspoon
dijon mustard -
½
teaspoon
dried oregano -
½
teaspoon
salt - Freshly floor black pepper
- For the salad:
-
10
ounces
orzo -
1 1/2
cups
halved cherry or grape tomatoes (we love heirloom cherry tomatoes) -
2
persian cucumbers, sliced and quartered (or 1 cucumber, sliced and quartered) -
1
pink bell pepper, diced -
1/2
cup
pitted chopped or sliced kalamata -
1/2
cup
pitted chopped or sliced inexperienced olives -
1/3
cup
sliced pepperoncinis -
1/4
cup
thinly sliced pink onion -
½
cup
feta crumbles -
⅓
cup
chopped contemporary basil -
¼
cup
chopped contemporary parsley
-
First make the dressing: whisk collectively the olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, dijon, oregano and salt and pepper in a small bowl till properly mixed. You too can add all of them to a mason jar, add the lid after which shake till properly mixed.
-
Subsequent prepare dinner your pasta till al dente in line with the instructions on the bundle. As soon as carried out cooking, drain and add to a big bowl.
-
Add the tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, kalamata olives, inexperienced olives, pepperoncinis, pink onion, feta, basil and parsley to the bowl with the pasta. Pour dressing excessive and toss collectively till mixed. Serve and revel in!
For further protein, be at liberty so as to add grilled rooster, chickpeas or white beans to the salad.
Vitamin
Servings: 6 servings
Serving dimension: 1 serving (based mostly on 6)
Energy: 359kcal
Fats: 18.3g
Saturated fats: 3.8g
Carbohydrates: 41.6g
Fiber: 3.6g
Sugar: 3.3g
Protein: 8.9g
Recipe by: Monique Volz // Formidable Kitchen | Pictures by: Eat Love Eats
