The Orzo salad is perfect for summer gatherings and picnics. Cucumber, tomatoes, arugula, and a zesty lemon basil dressing make for great flavor!
We must be willing to give up the life we planned in order to have the life that is waiting for us.
Joseph Campbell
In the warmer months, I love having a salad ready to go from the fridge. Somehow it brings me so much satisfaction! This Orzo Salad is a light and refreshing salad full of summertime goodness. Served with cucumber, tomato, arugula and the most delicious lemon basil dressing – bright, clear flavors make this salad one of my favorites! It’s the perfect salad for weeknight lunches or as a side for dinner with grilled chicken or veggie burgers!
What I love about this orzo salad
- Orzo cooks quickly so this salad is SUPER quick to make.
- It’s vegan and highly adaptable – check out all the variations below!
- It can be made in advance and will keep in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- It’s the perfect dish for a potluck because it goes with everything and is always the first thing to go! Always a telltale sign. 🙂
How to make orzo salad
Cook the orzo. Cook al dente in a saucepan of boiling salted water. Drain, rinse with cold water and set aside.
Make the dressing. While the orzo is cooking, combine the lemon basil dressing in a food processor. What gives the dressing that extra lemony kick is the zest from a whole lemon!
Toss the orzo salad! Toss the cooked and cooled orzo with the dressing and add the cucumber and cherry tomatoes.
TIP: I often add a handful of arugula for color and a peppery bite. If you make this ahead of time, wait until serving to add the arugula so it’s fresh.
Store orzo salad in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Serving suggestions for orzo salad
Serve the orzo salad on its own for a ready-to-eat lunch, or bring it to summer get-togethers, potlucks, and picnics! Combine it with:
Orzo salad tips
- As you prepare it, remember that the pasta will soak up the salt—always taste it just before serving! I find that pasta salads need more salt and acid (lemon in this case) after a while. 🙂
- Don’t overcook the orzo! Orzo tends to cook quickly. So watch it closely and cook it al dente. In this way, it absorbs part of the aromatic dressing.
- Salt the pasta water for the best flavor!
More orzo recipes to love!
Enjoy…
Enjoy the orzo salad and please let us know what you think in the comments below. ❤️
xoxo
Sylvia
Press
Description
The Orzo salad is refined with a lemon basil dressing, with fresh cucumbers, tomatoes and rocket. A healthy, vegan pasta salad that can be made for lunch or weeknight potlucks. Keep it vegan or add feta!
Lemon Basil Dressing
Optional additions: Cheese (goat, feta, grated pecorino, or parmesan), seeds, nuts, avocado, microgreens, or chickpeas
- Cook the orzo in plenty of salted water. Drain and rinse with cold water until cool.
- Place the basil, garlic, and lemon zest in a food processor. Pulse repeatedly until evenly chopped. Add lemon juice, oil, salt and pepper. Pulse a few more times until well combined but not smooth.
- Place the cooled orzo in a bowl and toss with the tangy basil-lemon sauce. Add any supplements; Cherry tomatoes, cucumber, chickpeas, sugar snap peas, goat cheese, avocado, nuts, seeds, arugula, etc.
- Orzo will soak up a lot of the salt once it’s soaked, so make sure it does taste of salt just before serving. I usually add another ¼ teaspoon. Adjust the lemon and add more to taste.
- Enjoy!
Remarks
If you plan to add a lot of veggies or beans to the orzo (say, more than a cup or two), double or 1.5 times the lemon basil dressing so your final dish still has plenty of flavor and a vibrant vibe has color.
Orzo salad can be stored in the refrigerator for 4 days
Nourishment
- Serving size: 1 1/4 cups (without feta)
- Calories: 233
- Sugar: 1.1g
- Sodium: 293.1 mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fatty Acids: 2.1g
- Carbohydrates: 23.6g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 4.5g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: Orzo Pasta Salad, Orzo Salad, Orzo Salad Recipe, Orzo Recipe, Lemon Orzo Pasta, Lemon Basil Orzo Salad, Orzo Recipes, Vegan Pasta Salad, Vegan Orzo Pasta Salad