This twist on a basic Italian pasta salad is a sport changer. The orzo pasta offers this salad the proper chew and texture. Plus, it’s loaded with crisp veggies and a straightforward do-it-yourself French dressing dressing.
Love orzo as a lot as we do? Then you definitely’ll love our Lemon Hen 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 straightforward to make.
- Simple to prep the evening earlier than and able to throw collectively whenever you want it!
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 proper chew. And the feel of this salad is just about good. If you happen to’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 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 chew.
- Olives: the sliced black olives in a can are an important choice, or you would 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 important crunch and tangy zip. You might additionally substitute with banana peppers.
- Cherry Tomatoes: Grape tomatoes additionally work, and you should utilize pink or yellow.
- Contemporary Mozzarella: Cubed recent mozzarella offers a pleasant gentle texture to the salad. Nonetheless, you would at all times use these little mini mozzarella balls or shredded mozzarella as an alternative.
- 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.
Optionally available Add-Ins
Meat: We love these mini pepperonis for a way effectively they mix with the scale of the opposite elements, however should you’re not a fan, you may simply swap with a special protein. We suggest grilled hen, floor Italian sausage, or sliced salami as an alternative.
Veggies: We love a very good crunch to our pasta salads. If you happen to’re seeking to load up with extra veggies, you would add one other bell pepper (yellow and pink are sweeter), some chopped pink onion and zucchini, or perhaps a diced jalapeño for slightly kick of warmth
Beans: Add some extra substance to your salad! Beans are an effective way to make this pasta salad slightly extra hearty and filling. Garbanzo beans (chickpeas) pair effectively with this salad for his or her dimension and texture.
Cheese: Be happy to make use of your favourite cheese. You should utilize mini mozzarella balls or shredded mozzarella as an alternative of chopped recent mozzarella to avoid wasting time. Parmesan can be an important different that may pair completely with the Italian flavors.
Make-Forward Directions
This pasta salad is tremendous straightforward to make forward. You’ll be able to 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 relax. Once 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. Carried out and executed!
Storage Directions
Refrigerate any leftovers in an hermetic container for as much as 4 days. Past that, the veggies can change into soggy.
