Italian Orzo Pasta Salad

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

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

Why My Recipe

• Loaded with completely crisp and crunchy veggies and all of the scrumptious orzo.
• Selfmade Italian dressing that’s fast and simple to make.
• Straightforward to prep the night time earlier than and able to throw collectively once you want it!

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, providing you with the right chew. And the feel of this salad is just about excellent. If you happen to’re nervous 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 develop 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 chew.
• Olives: the sliced black olives in a can are a terrific choice, or you 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 a terrific crunch and tangy zip. You might additionally substitute with banana peppers.
• Cherry Tomatoes: Grape tomatoes additionally work, and you should use pink or yellow.
• Recent Mozzarella: Cubed recent mozzarella offers a pleasant gentle texture to the salad. Nonetheless, you can at all times use these little mini mozzarella balls or shredded mozzarella as a substitute.
• Salad Dressing: You may make your dressing with recent herbs over dried. You’ll need to use one tablespoon of finely minced recent herbs for each teaspoon of dried herbs the recipe requires.

Elective Add-Ins

Meat: We love these mini pepperonis for a way effectively they mix with the dimensions of the opposite elements, however if you happen to’re not a fan, you’ll be able to simply swap with a special protein. We advocate grilled hen, floor Italian sausage, or sliced salami as a substitute.

Veggies: We love crunch to our pasta salads. If you happen to’re trying to load up with extra veggies, you 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 an effective way to make this pasta salad a bit 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 recent mozzarella to avoid wasting time. Parmesan can also be a terrific various that will 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 cook dinner the pasta the night time earlier than and retailer within the fridge to relax. Once you’re able to eat, all you’ve bought to do is chop the veggies and toss all of it collectively in a giant bowl. Achieved and completed!