Italian Orzo Pasta Salad

This twist on a traditional Italian pasta salad is a recreation changer. The orzo pasta offers this salad the proper chunk and texture. Plus, it’s loaded with crisp veggies and a straightforward do-it-yourself French dressing dressing.

Love orzo as a lot as we do? Then you definately’ll love our Lemon Chicken and Orzo.

Why My Recipe

• Loaded with completely crisp and crunchy veggies and all of the scrumptious orzo.
• Do-it-yourself Italian dressing that’s fast and simple to make.
• Straightforward to prep the night time earlier than and able to throw collectively if you want it!

What’s nice about this salad is the dimensions of every ingredient. The orzo pasta, mini pepperoni, and small items of mozzarella all match collectively on one spoon, providing you with the proper chunk. And the feel of this salad is just about excellent. In case you’re fearful a few soggy pasta salad, this isn’t that! Cooking the orzo pasta to al dente and mixing it with olives, peppers, and tomatoes makes this pasta salad gentle with that excellent crunch. This pasta salad and my Mediterranean Chickpea Salad have turn out to be my go-to for meal-prepping a fast and attractive lunch!

Ingredient Notes

• Orzo Pasta: This short-cut pasta resembles rice and is discovered within the pasta aisle at most grocery shops. Prepare dinner to al dente for a agency, chewy chunk.
• Olives: the sliced black olives in a can are an ideal choice, or you could possibly go inexperienced.
• Mini Pepperonis: Simply swap for normal, sliced pepperoni or salami.
• Inexperienced Bell Pepper: Substitute with yellow or pink bell peppers for a sweeter taste.
• Pepperoncini: Provides an ideal crunch and tangy zip. You might additionally substitute with banana peppers.
• Cherry Tomatoes: Grape tomatoes additionally work, and you should use pink or yellow.
• Contemporary Mozzarella: Cubed recent mozzarella offers a pleasant smooth texture to the salad. Nevertheless, you could possibly all the time use these little mini mozzarella balls or shredded mozzarella as an alternative.
• Salad Dressing: You can also make your dressing with recent herbs over dried. You’ll wish to use one tablespoon of finely minced recent herbs for each teaspoon of dried herbs the recipe requires.

Optionally available Add-Ins

Meat: We love these mini pepperonis for a way properly they mix with the dimensions of the opposite substances, however if you happen to’re not a fan, you possibly can simply swap with a unique protein. We advocate grilled hen, floor Italian sausage, or sliced salami as an alternative.

Veggies: We love a very good crunch to our pasta salads. In case you’re trying to load up with extra veggies, you could possibly add one other bell pepper (yellow and pink are sweeter), some chopped pink onion and zucchini, or perhaps a diced jalapeño for a little bit kick of warmth

Beans: Add some extra substance to your salad! Beans are an effective way to make this pasta salad a little bit extra hearty and filling. Garbanzo beans (chickpeas) pair properly with this salad for his or her measurement and texture.

Cheese: Be at liberty to make use of your favourite cheese. You need to use mini mozzarella balls or shredded mozzarella as an alternative of chopped recent mozzarella to avoid wasting time. Parmesan can also be an ideal different that might pair completely with the Italian flavors.

Make-Forward Directions

This pasta salad is tremendous straightforward to make forward. You may whip up the dressing 1 to 2 days early and stash it within the fridge. Then cook dinner the pasta the night time earlier than and retailer within the fridge to sit back. If you’re able to eat, all you’ve bought to do is chop the veggies and toss all of it collectively in an enormous bowl. Completed and achieved!