Italian Orzo Pasta Salad

This twist on a basic Italian pasta salad is a recreation changer. The orzo pasta provides this salad the right chunk and texture. Plus, it’s loaded with crisp veggies and a straightforward 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 dimensions of every ingredient. The orzo pasta, mini pepperoni, and small items of mozzarella all match collectively on one spoon, supplying you with the right chunk. And the feel of this salad is just about excellent. When 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 gentle with that excellent 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. Prepare dinner to al dente for a agency, chewy chunk.
• Olives: the sliced black olives in a can are an ideal choice, 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 can additionally substitute with banana peppers.
• Cherry Tomatoes: Grape tomatoes additionally work, and you should utilize crimson or yellow.
• Recent Mozzarella: Cubed contemporary mozzarella provides a pleasant delicate texture to the salad. Nonetheless, you might 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.

Optionally available Add-Ins

Meat: We love these mini pepperonis for a way effectively they mix with the dimensions of the opposite elements, however in case you’re not a fan, you may simply swap with a unique protein. We advocate grilled hen, floor Italian sausage, or sliced salami as a substitute.

Veggies: We love a great crunch to our pasta salads. When 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 of kick of warmth

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

Cheese: Be at liberty to make use of your favourite cheese. You should use mini mozzarella balls or shredded mozzarella as a substitute of chopped contemporary mozzarella to avoid wasting time. Parmesan can be an ideal various 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 evening earlier than and retailer within the fridge to sit back. If 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. Completed and accomplished!