This vibrant orzo pasta salad with creamy goat cheese and grilled veggies is a 30-minute summer time facet. Tossed with tangy balsamic-mustard dressing and herby basil, it hits the spot each time.

Why You’ll Love This Orzo Pasta Salad Recipe

This can be your new favourite 30-minute recipe for weeknights whenever you want a hearty and refreshing facet dish.

• Nice for the summer time. This orzo salad is filled with contemporary veggies like juicy tomatoes, bell peppers, and tender zucchini.
• Fast. It’s prepared in half an hour!
• Versatile. Flip this facet dish into the primary dish with shrimp, juicy steak, rooster, or turkey.
• Newbie-friendly. You solely have to grill the veggies, cook dinner the orzo, and blend properly.

What You’ll Want

The garlicky balsamic-mustard dressing balances out the veggies’ pure sweetness. Scroll to the recipe card on the backside of the submit for actual quantities.

For the Grilled Veggies

• Zucchini – Don’t peel it in order that it holds its form properly.
• Squash – You may swap it for extra zucchini or candy potatoes.
• Purple onion – Yellow onion works too.
• Cherry tomatoes – Don’t fear in the event that they’re not as plump anymore.
• Purple peppers – You should utilize any coloration of bell pepper.
• Olive oil – Vegetable, corn, and canola oil are good swaps.
• Salt and pepper – You should utilize kosher salt or garlic salt for this.

To Make the Dressing

• Balsamic vinegar – Scale back the quantity by half in the event you use Balsamic Discount.
• Stone-ground mustard – Dijon mustard works too.
• Dried basil – Be happy to make use of contemporary basil.
• Garlic – Contemporary garlic and garlic paste are finest.
• Salt and pepper – I favor kosher salt and freshly-cracked black pepper.
• Olive oil – You may as well use avocado oil.

For the Salad

• Orzo – Add common or whole-wheat orzo.
• Goat cheese – Plain goat cheese is finest. Attempt to use creamier variations in order that it melts faster.

Straightforward Variations

Buttery shrimp, juicy rooster, and sauteed mushrooms are easy methods so as to add extra taste and texture to each chew.

How To Make Grilled Vegetable Orzo Pasta Salad

It’s identical to making your favourite pasta salad however with a mustard-vinegar dressing and tangy goat cheese. Scroll to the underside of the submit for the total recipe card.

• Prep the veggies. Preheat the grill to medium-high warmth. Toss all of the veggies in a bowl with olive oil, salt, and pepper.
• Grill them. Place the veggies on the grill for 10 minutes, or till tender. Take away them from the warmth and set them apart.
• Make the dressing. Whisk the entire dressing substances collectively till clean and barely thickened. It ought to persist with the again of the spoon.
• Cook dinner the orzo. Deliver a pot of water to a boil. Add the orzo and cook dinner it for 8-10 minutes, or in accordance with package deal directions. Drain properly and set it apart.

• Combine the whole lot. Toss the orzo, grilled veggies, goat cheese, and balsamic dressing in a bowl till the cheese is totally melted. Serve and revel in!

Suggestions for Success

This simple orzo pasta salad is nice for utilizing up leftover roasted veggies and steak.

• Swap the cheese. Should you don’t really feel like utilizing goat cheese, go for freshly-grated parmesan cheese or feta. Feta received’t soften however it’ll add an analogous tang.
• Use leftovers. Once you’re in a rush, add my Air Fryer Roasted Carrots or Roasted Inexperienced Beans & Mushrooms to the orzo to avoid wasting time. This manner you don’t need to grill the veggies from scratch.
• Make it additional creamy. Add 1/4 cup heavy cream or half-and-half when mixing the whole lot collectively for a creamier texture.
• Crank up the warmth. Sprinkle the pasta salad with purple pepper flakes, Aleppo pepper, or drizzle with chili oil to style for a bit of warmth.
• Flip it into the primary dish. Chop up leftover Grilled Filet Mignon, Pan Seared Ribeye, or Forged Iron Cowboy Steak and toss it with the salad for a fundamental dish.

What To Serve With Orzo Salad

This creamy orzo pasta salad is a good facet on your favourite dinners. Serve it with my Pecan Crusted Salmon or Garlic Butter Baked Salmon. I additionally find it irresistible with my New York Strip Steak with Balsamic Discount or Air Fryer Rooster Breast. Different facet concepts embody Air Fryer Asparagus and Air Fryer Inexperienced Beans.

Correct Storage

Be sure the leftovers are totally cooled earlier than storing.

• Fridge: Place it in an hermetic container for as much as 3 days. Discard it instantly if it tastes bitter.
• To reheat it: Microwave it in 20-second increments till heat.

Extra Straightforward Summer season Aspect Dishes

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