From time to time I come throughout a recipe at a restaurant that I completely love, then I spend the subsequent few moments making an attempt to guess what’s in it so I can recreate it at house…for lots much less! Nicely right this moment, I’m sharing a type of recipes! This Orzo Pasta Salad is impressed by a dish at one in every of my favourite eating places, J. Alexander’s, and it’s now going into my pasta salads rotation!🙌 It consists of contemporary veggies like bell peppers, tomatoes and onion, together with tart & barely candy dried cranberries, and one of the best selfmade French dressing dressing to deliver all of it collectively. This pasta salad recipe will certainly turn into a brand new favourite!
The restaurant model of this recipe consists of wild rice, however I made a decision to go away the rice out as a result of for one…wild rice could be costly, and two…wild rice takes fairly a little bit of time to cook dinner. However I completely love this model as a substitute! So right here’s all the things you should make this easy orzo pasta salad recipe:
- Orzo: Orzo is a small formed pasta that appears much like rice. It cooks shortly and is widespread in soups and salads identical to this one. For those who don’t have entry to orzo pasta, you may actually substitute it for a distinct small-shaped pasta as a substitute.
- Greens: A mixture of veggies like bell peppers, roma tomatoes, purple onion and candy corn, provides numerous coloration, taste, and texture. I made certain to cube the greens small so that they match the proportion measurement of the remainder of the elements.
- Dried Cranberries: One of many issues I really like most about this pasta salad is the addition of the dried cranberries. It provides a tart & barely candy taste and compliments the dressing completely!
- French dressing Dressing: To maintain issues gentle and contemporary, I opted for a selfmade French dressing dressing made with easy pantry elements and sweetened with a little bit of honey. It’s so good!!
- Swap it up! For those who’re trying to change up the flavour profile, then strive including some Kalamata olives, crumbled feta cheese, and greek salad dressing, for a Mediterranean-inspired orzo pasta salad!
- Wanna make it extra filling? Add some grilled hen, grilled shrimp, or a can of chickpeas (drained & rinsed).
- Calm down the pasta. Don’t neglect to provide the cooked pasta and corn a fast rinse underneath cool water to cease the cooking course of and funky off the pasta earlier than including the veggies, herbs and cheese.
Serving Options
This gentle and summery orzo pasta salad is ideal for BBQs and cookouts! Add it to your summer time menu and revel in it with some turkey burgers or grilled salmon. It’s additionally nice with leaner proteins like Baked Cod, Pan-Seared Hen Breasts, and even some Garlic Butter Shrimp on the aspect.
Orzo Pasta Salad
This gentle & contemporary Orzo Pasta Salad is filled with colourful veggies and a scrumptious selfmade dressing. Excellent for BBQs or meal prep it for the week!
Stop your display from going darkish
French dressing Dressing
- 1/3 cup olive oil ($0.96)
- 3 Tbsp white wine vinegar ($0.39)
- 1/2 Tbsp Dijon mustard ($0.04)
- 1 clove garlic, minced ($0.08)
- 1/2 tsp dried basil ($0.05)
- 1/4 tsp salt ($0.02)
- 1 Tbsp honey ($0.18)
Pasta Salad
- 1 1/2 cups raw orzo pasta ($1.49)
- 1 cup frozen corn ($0.41)
- 1 purple bell pepper ($1.59)
- 1 yellow bell pepper ($1.59)
- 2 roma tomatoes ($0.78)
- 1/2 purple onion ($0.40)
- 3/4 cup dried cranberries ($1.70)
- 1/4 cup contemporary chopped parsley ($0.29)
- 1/4 tsp salt ($0.02)
-
Begin by making the French dressing dressing. In a medium bowl whisk collectively the olive oil, white wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, basil, salt and honey till easy. Set the French dressing apart.
-
Cook dinner the orzo pasta in line with the package deal instructions. Add the frozen corn to the boiling water over the past 3 minutes of the pasta cook dinner time. Drain the pasta and corn in a colander and rinse briefly with cool water to chill off the pasta.
-
Whereas the pasta is cooking, put together the veggies. Cube the bell peppers and tomatoes, finely cube the purple onion, measure out the dried cranberries, and chop the parsley.
-
Switch the pasta and corn to a big bowl. Add the chopped greens, chopped parsley and dried cranberries.
-
Give the French dressing dressing one other stir. Pour the dressing over the pasta salad and season with 1/4 tsp salt. Toss the salad elements collectively till all the things is evenly coated within the dressing. Serve instantly or refrigerate till able to get pleasure from.
See how we calculate recipe prices right here.
*Retailer any leftovers in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 3 days.
Serving: 1cupEnergy: 265kcalCarbohydrates: 41gProtein: 5gFats: 10gSodium: 163mgFiber: 3g
Learn our full diet disclaimer right here.
Methods to Make Orzo Pasta Salad – Step by Step Images
Begin by making the French dressing dressing. In a medium bowl whisk collectively 1/3 cup olive oil, 3 Tbsp white wine vinegar, 1/2 Tbsp Dijon mustard, 1 minced garlic clove, 1/2 tsp basil, 1/4 tsp salt and 1 Tbsp honey till easy. Set the French dressing apart.
Cook dinner 1 1/2 cups of orzo pasta in line with the package deal instructions. Add 1 cup frozen corn to the boiling water over the past 3 minutes of the pasta cook dinner time. Drain the pasta and corn in a colander and rinse briefly with cool water to chill off the pasta.
Whereas the pasta is cooking, put together the veggies. Cube 1 purple bell pepper, 1 yellow bell pepper, 2 roma tomatoes, finely cube 1/2 purple onion, measure out 3/4 cups dried cranberries, and chop 1/4 cup contemporary parsley. (Frozen corn is pictured on the reducing board, however is added within the earlier step with the boiling pasta).
Switch the cooked pasta and corn to a big bowl. Add the chopped greens, chopped parsley and dried cranberries. Give the French dressing dressing one other stir. Pour the dressing over the pasta salad.
Toss the salad elements collectively till all the things is evenly coated within the dressing. Serve instantly or refrigerate till able to get pleasure from!
Get pleasure from this gentle, contemporary and summery orzo pasta salad at your subsequent BBQ, cookout or household gathering! Retailer any leftovers in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 3 days.
