Best 3 Confetti Orzo Salad Recipes

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Confetti orzo salad is a delightful dish that offers a vibrant blend of flavors and textures, making it a perfect choice for summer gatherings or picnics. With its colorful mix of orzo pasta, fresh vegetables, herbs, and a tangy dressing, this salad is sure to impress your taste buds. Whether you're a seasoned cook or a beginner, this article will guide you through the process of creating a delicious and visually stunning confetti orzo salad that will be a hit at any occasion.

Let's cook with our recipes!

ORZO PASTA SALAD WITH GRILLED CONFETTI VEGETABLES AND FETA



Orzo Pasta Salad With Grilled Confetti Vegetables and Feta image

Orzo pasta salad with zucchini, yellow pepper, corn, cherry tomatoes, pine nuts, feta and a delicious dressing flavored with lemon and oregano. Perfect summer dish. From Today's Parent Magazine.

Provided by FrVanilla

Categories     Vegetable

Time 35m

Yield 6-8 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 15

3 cups orzo pasta or 3 cups bow tie pasta
2 teaspoons olive oil
1/2 cup olive oil
1 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon lemon peel
2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 small zucchini, sliced lengthwise into 1/2-inch (1 cm)
2 yellow peppers, quartered
3 large ears of corn, husked and wrapped in tinfoil
1 cup cherry tomatoes, sliced in half lengthwise
1 1/2 cups feta cheese, crumbled
1/2 cup toasted pine nuts
1/2 cup basil leaves, torn

Steps:

  • In a large pot, bring about 4 cups of salted water to a boil. Add orzo pasta and cook according to package directions, about 6-8 minutes, until al dente (firm to the bite). Drain and rinse under cold water. Let orzo sit in colander to drain well. Transfer to a large bowl and toss with about 2 tsp (5 ml) olive oil to prevent sticking. Set aside.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, oregano, lemon juice, lemon peel, salt and pepper until well combined. Set aside.
  • Preheat a barbeque or grill to medium-high heat. Brush zucchini strips and yellow pepper with a little olive oil. Place these, along with corn, on barbeque and grill for 4-5 minutes on each side until grill marks appear and vegetables are tender. Remove and set aside on a baking tray to cool. Once cool, cut the kernels off of the corn husks (there should be about 2 cups) and chop the zucchini and yellow peppers into ½-inch (1 cm) pieces.
  • To the orzo pasta, add the zucchini, yellow pepper, corn, cherry tomatoes, feta and pine nuts. Drizzle over lemon vinaigrette and toss gently to combine. Garnish with torn basil leaves.
  • In a hurry? Chop zucchini and yellow pepper into ½-inch dice. Place in large bowl along with cherry tomatoes and 1 cup corn (canned). Toss with 1 tbsp olive oil and season the vegetables with salt and pepper. Spread evenly onto a baking sheet. Bake until lightly browned, about 10 to 15 minutes. Set aside and let cool to room temperature and then toss with orzo salad as above.

CONFETTI ORZO SALAD



Confetti Orzo Salad image

This is a dish that is always a hit anywhere I take it. I always serve it cold. I believe it's from the 365 pasta recipes cookbook but it has changed over time to the recipe I have here. If you don't have orzo on hand you can use any small shaped pasta instead. Enjoy! :)

Provided by Pam Snyder

Categories     Pasta Sides

Time 20m

Number Of Ingredients 11

1 1/2 c orzo pasta
1/3 c olive oil, extra virgin ( i use less for my taste)
3 Tbsp lemon juice, fresh squeezed
1/2 tsp lemon zest
1/2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp black pepper
1 clove garlic, minced
1 medium carrot, diced finely
1 1/4 c bell peppers (red, green and yellow), diced
1/2 small red onion, diced (about 1/4 cup)
1/4 c fresh parsley, finely chopped

Steps:

  • 1. Cook orzo in plenty of boiling water until tender, 10-12 minutes. Drain.
  • 2. Whisk oil, lemon juice, zest, salt, pepper, and garlic until blended.
  • 3. Toss all of the ingredients together. Serve hot or cold.

CONFETTI ORZO SALAD



CONFETTI ORZO SALAD image

Categories     Leafy Green     Pasta

Yield serves 6 (main) or 10-12 (side)

Number Of Ingredients 11

1 pound orzo pasta, preferably Barilla
1 cup moderately packed baby arugula leaves, stems discarded
1 cup moderately packed baby spinach leaves
3/4 cup oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, oil reserved
3/4 pitted oil-packed kalamata olives
4-6 fresh shallots, diced
1 small jar marinated artichokes
2 pounds fresh mozzarella, preferably mini-balls
freshly ground black pepper
2 oz flat-leaf parsley
olive oil, for drizzling

Steps:

  • cook orzo until al-dente. drain and pour into large bowl and drizzle with about 1/4cup olive oil to prevent sticking. set aside to cool. coarsely chop arugula and spinach and parsley, olives, sun-dried tomatoes, and artichokes; combine in a medium-sized bowl. add chopped shallots and about 1/4 cup of the reserved oil from the sun-dried tomatoes. add these ingredients to the warm pasta, stir to combine. taste for seasonings, and add freshly ground black pepper to taste. once pasta is cool enough, addd the mini mozzarella balls (pasta should still be warm, but not too warm to melt the cheese) and stir to combine. serve as a main course or a nice side dish.

Tips:

  • Prep ahead: To save time, cook the orzo and veggies in advance. Store them in airtight containers in the fridge for up to 3 days.
  • Choose colorful veggies: Use a variety of brightly colored vegetables to make the salad visually appealing and packed with nutrients. For example, try using cherry tomatoes, red bell peppers, yellow squash, and zucchini.
  • Use fresh herbs: Fresh herbs like basil, parsley, and thyme add a burst of flavor to the salad. Chop them just before serving to preserve their freshness.
  • Make it a meal: Add grilled chicken, shrimp, or tofu to the salad to make it a complete meal. You can also serve it with a side of crusty bread or crackers.

Conclusion:

Confetti orzo salad is a refreshing, colorful, and flavorful dish that is perfect for summer gatherings. It's easy to make and can be customized to your liking. Whether you're serving it as a side dish or a main meal, this salad is sure to be a hit.

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