Italian Orzo Pasta Salad

This twist on a traditional Italian pasta salad is a sport changer. The orzo pasta provides this salad the right chunk 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 chunk. And the feel of this salad is just about good. In the event you’re anxious a couple of 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 mild with that good crunch. This pasta salad and my Mediterranean Chickpea Salad have change into my go-to for meal-prepping a fast and engaging 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 chunk.
• Olives: the sliced black olives in a can are an incredible possibility, or you possibly can go inexperienced.
• Mini Pepperonis: Simply swap for normal, sliced pepperoni or salami.
• Inexperienced Bell Pepper: Substitute with yellow or purple 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 should use purple or yellow.
• Recent Mozzarella: Cubed contemporary mozzarella provides a pleasant smooth texture to the salad. Nonetheless, you possibly can at all times 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 wish to use one tablespoon of finely minced contemporary herbs for each teaspoon of dried herbs the recipe requires.

Non-obligatory Add-Ins

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

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

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

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

Make-Forward Directions

This pasta salad is tremendous simple to make forward. You possibly can whip up the dressing 1 to 2 days early and stash it within the fridge. Then cook dinner the pasta the evening 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 a giant bowl. Achieved and performed!