Italian Orzo Pasta Salad

This twist on a traditional Italian pasta salad is a recreation changer. The orzo pasta provides this salad the right chew and texture. Plus, it’s loaded with crisp veggies and a straightforward selfmade French dressing dressing.

Love orzo as a lot as we do? You then’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 excellent. In case you’re frightened 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 excellent crunch. This pasta salad and my Mediterranean Chickpea Salad have grow to be 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 chew.
• Olives: the sliced black olives in a can are an ideal possibility, or you might go inexperienced.
• Mini Pepperonis: Simply swap for normal, sliced pepperoni or salami.
• Inexperienced Bell Pepper: Substitute with yellow or crimson bell peppers for a sweeter taste.
• Pepperoncini: Offers an ideal crunch and tangy zip. You might additionally substitute with banana peppers.
• Cherry Tomatoes: Grape tomatoes additionally work, and you need to use crimson or yellow.
• Contemporary Mozzarella: Cubed contemporary mozzarella provides a pleasant gentle texture to the salad. Nonetheless, you might at all times use these little mini mozzarella balls or shredded mozzarella as an alternative.
• Salad Dressing: You can also 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.

Non-compulsory Add-Ins

Meat: We love these mini pepperonis for a way nicely they mix with the scale of the opposite elements, however in case you’re not a fan, you’ll be able to simply swap with a distinct protein. We suggest grilled rooster, floor Italian sausage, or sliced salami as an alternative.

Veggies: We love an excellent crunch to our pasta salads. In case you’re trying to load up with extra veggies, you might add one other bell pepper (yellow and crimson are sweeter), some chopped crimson 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 dimension and texture.

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

Make-Forward Directions

This pasta salad is tremendous simple 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 relax. If you’re able to eat, all you’ve received to do is chop the veggies and toss all of it collectively in a giant bowl. Performed and achieved!