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Fresh Orzo Pasta Salad served on a large white plate with fresh basil leaves and a lemon slice on the side
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5 from 33 votes

Mediterranean Orzo Salad - Cold Pasta

How to make a fantastic healthy summer recipe, our Mediterranean orzo salad is perfect for a picnic, a light lunch, side dish, or a make-ahead pasta salad for a BBQ.
How to cook orzo pasta perfectly and flavour with a homemade dressing, made from Italian style seasoning, olive oil, garlic and lemon vinaigrette dressing.
This simple orzo pasta is served cold, mixed with your choice of salad ingredients, such as cucumber, olives, sundried tomatoes, sweet pepper, sweetcorn and fresh basil.
Vegan & Vegetarian friendly, or the option to add mini mozzarella cheese balls, chicken, chorizo or cured meats and pine nuts to this lemon orzo salad recipe.
UK & US measurements given
Prep Time10 minutes
Active Time10 minutes
Total Time20 minutes
Course: Lunch, Main Course, picnic, Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine: British, Italian, Mediterranean
Keyword: Barbecue, barbeque, BBQ pasta salad, BBQ salad ideas, BBQ side salad, cold orzo, cold orzo salad, cold pasta salad, Italian Orzo, orzo pasta, orzo pasta salad, orzo salad recipe uk, quick and easy, simple, summer
Yield: 8 People as a side
Calories: 257kcal
Author: Luke and Kay - Flawless Food

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 250 gram Orzo Pasta

Homemade Italian vinaigrette dressing

  • 1 tablespoon Dried Italian Herb Seasoning
  • 4 tablespoon Olive Oil Extra Virgin or virgin is best
  • ½ Lemon
  • 2 teaspoon Garlic Puree or 3 cloves minced garlic

Salad

  • 60 grams Green or/and Black Olives
  • ¼ Cucumber
  • ½ tin Sweetcorn
  • 8 Sundried Tomatoes
  • 10 Cherry Tomatoes
  • 2 Spring Onions (green)
  • ½ Sweet pepper (bell) yellow or
  • 2 tablespoon Fresh Basil

Optional Italian extras - not vegan friendly

  • Mini Mozzarella balls
  • Pine nuts
  • Cooked Chicken
  • Chorizo
Metric - US Customary

Instructions

  • Rinse 250 gram Orzo Pasta with cold water to remove excess starch.
    Bring a large pan of water to a boil. Add the rinsed orzo and a pinch of salt. Bring it back to the boil, cooking for 7-10 minutes.
    Cooked orzo pasta on a wooden spoon over a silver cooking pot
  • While the orzo is cooking, prepare the homemade vinaigrette dressing. Mix together 1 tbsp Dried Italian Herb Seasoning, 4 tbsp Olive Oil, 2 tsp Garlic Puree and juice from ½ Lemon
    Squeezing lemon juice into a clear glass pot to make homemade vinaigrette
  • Transfer drained orzo to a large bowl, and add the dressing as soon as possible to prevent the orzo pasta from sticking together.
    Stir through and leave to cool, whilst you prepare the salad.
    Stirring the orzo and dressing together with a wooden spoon in a large silver pot
  • Chop all the salad ingredients up into small chunks.
    60 grams Green or/and Black Olives, ¼ Cucumber, ½ tin Sweetcorn, 8 Sundried Tomatoes, 10 Cherry Tomatoes, 2 Spring Onions (green), ½ Sweet pepper (bell), 2 tbsp Fresh Basil
    Mix these salad items and orzo together.
    Chopped green, black olives, tomatoes,basil,yellow pepper, spring sun dried tomatoes and the cooked orzo being mixed together with a wooden spoon in a silver bowl
  • Ready to serve or keep covered in the fridge until needed.
    Optional Italian extras, add your choice of Mini Mozzarella balls,Pine nuts,Cooked Chicken or Chorizo
    Fresh Orzo Pasta Salad lunch served on a large white plate with fresh basil leaves and a lemon slice on the side

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 257kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 156mg | Potassium: 209mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 461IU | Vitamin C: 24mg | Calcium: 182mg | Iron: 1mg