Italian Orzo Pasta Salad

This twist on a basic Italian pasta salad is a sport changer. The orzo pasta provides this salad the right chew and texture. Plus, it’s loaded with crisp veggies and a simple home made French dressing dressing.

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

What’s nice about this salad is the scale of every ingredient. The orzo pasta, mini pepperoni, and small items of mozzarella all match collectively on one spoon, providing you with the right chew. And the feel of this salad is just about good. For those who’re apprehensive 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 good 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. Cook dinner to al dente for a agency, chewy chew.
• Olives: the sliced black olives in a can are an incredible choice, or you possibly can 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 incredible crunch and tangy zip. You possibly can additionally substitute with banana peppers.
• Cherry Tomatoes: Grape tomatoes additionally work, and you need to use pink or yellow.
• Contemporary Mozzarella: Cubed contemporary mozzarella provides a pleasant gentle texture to the salad. Nonetheless, you possibly can all the time use these little mini mozzarella balls or shredded mozzarella as a substitute.
• Salad Dressing: You may make your dressing with contemporary herbs over dried. You’ll need to use one tablespoon of finely minced contemporary herbs for each teaspoon of dried herbs the recipe requires.

Optionally available Add-Ins

Meat: We love these mini pepperonis for the way nicely they mix with the scale of the opposite substances, however in case you’re not a fan, you possibly can simply swap with a unique protein. We suggest grilled hen, floor Italian sausage, or sliced salami as a substitute.

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

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

Cheese: Be at liberty to make use of your favourite cheese. You should utilize mini mozzarella balls or shredded mozzarella as a substitute of chopped contemporary mozzarella to avoid wasting time. Parmesan can be an incredible different that may pair completely with the Italian flavors.

Make-Forward Directions

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