Welcome to the ultimate guide to creating a tantalizing and refreshing lemon orzo pasta salad. This delectable dish, bursting with vibrant flavors and textures, is a perfect addition to any potluck, picnic, or summer gathering. With a delightful balance of tangy lemon, savory herbs, and tender orzo pasta, this salad will become a favorite in your recipe book. Our carefully curated collection of recipes offers various options to suit different tastes and dietary preferences, ensuring you find the perfect fit for your culinary adventure. Get ready to embark on a journey of culinary delight as we explore the tantalizing world of lemon orzo pasta salads.
Let's cook with our recipes!
LEMON ORZO PASTA SALAD
This lemon orzo pasta salad isn't creamy (in fact, it's dairy-free), but it's certainly flavorful and just right for spring/summer weather with lots of fresh basil and freshly squeezed lemon juice.
Provided by Sweet Basil
Categories 100 Family Favorite Easy Healthy Recipes
Time 40m
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Add water to a large saucepan and bring to a boil on the stove top.
- Once boiling, lightly salt the water and add orzo and stir.
- Let pasta cook for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally so that the pasta doesn't stick.
- When pasta is to your preferred doneness, drain the water and add pasta to a bowl to cool.
- You'll want to stir the pasta as it cools to ensure it doesn't stick together.
- If it begins to stick, drizzle pasta with a little bit of olive oil and it should be fine.
- In a separate bowl, add lemon juice, olive oil, apple cider vinegar, garlic, salt, and pepper and whisk to combine.
- Pour over cooled orzo and stir to combine.
- Add almonds, cannellini beans, and basil and stir to combine evenly.
- Refrigerate the pasta salad for at least 30 minutes before serving.
- As the pasta will absorb some of the liquid as it is refrigerated, you may want to drizzle a little extra olive oil and lemon juice over top and stir in before serving.
Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 1 g, Calories 341 kcal, Carbohydrate 43 g, Protein 15 g, Fat 14 g, SaturatedFat 2 g, Sodium 104 mg, Fiber 6 g, Sugar 4 g, TransFat 1 g, UnsaturatedFat 11 g
LEMON ORZO PASTA SALAD WITH CUCUMBERS AND OLIVES
We love this light orzo pasta salad - it doubles as a side, can be the main event or works well topped with grilled chicken or Adam's favorite, shrimp! Use your favorite tender herbs in this - we love using of one or a combination of mint, dill, basil, parsley or cilantro.
Provided by Adam and Joanne Gallagher
Categories Side Dish
Time 20m
Yield Makes approximately 8 (1 cup) servings
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Bring a large saucepan of salted water to a boil. Add orzo and cook until tender, 6 to 10 minutes (check box for actual cook time). Drain.
- While the orzo cooks, in a large bowl, whisk the oil, mustard, honey, lemon zest, lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Add the drained orzo to the dressing and mix well.
- Stir in the cucumber, tomato, herbs, olives and artichokes. Taste for seasoning and adjust with salt and/or pepper as needed. Enjoy warm or cover then refrigerate until cool, about 1 hour.
Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 1 cup, Calories 166, Protein 4.4 g, Carbohydrate 20.5 g, Fiber 2 g, Sugar 1.8 g, Fat 8 g, SaturatedFat 1.1 g, Cholesterol 21 mg, Sodium 290 mg
LEMON ORZO
Steps:
- In a large saucepan, bring 2 quarts of water to a boil. Add 2 teaspoons salt and the orzo. Return the water to a boil and simmer uncovered for 9 to 11 minutes, until the orzo is al dente. Drain.
- Transfer the orzo to a bowl and stir in the lemon zest, lemon juice, olive oil, dill, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper. Fold in the feta and serve hot.
Tips:
- Use fresh lemon zest and juice: Fresh lemon zest and juice add a bright, citrusy flavor to the pasta salad. Be sure to use unwaxed lemons, and zest them before juicing them.
- Cook the orzo al dente: Orzo should be cooked al dente, which means it should be tender but still have a slight bite to it. This will help it hold its shape in the salad.
- Use a variety of vegetables: This recipe calls for a variety of vegetables, including cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, and kalamata olives. You can also add other vegetables that you like, such as bell peppers, zucchini, or artichoke hearts.
- Use a good quality olive oil: Olive oil is the main fat in this salad, so it's important to use a good quality oil. Extra virgin olive oil has the best flavor, but you can also use a lighter olive oil if you prefer.
- Season the salad to taste: The amount of salt and pepper you add to the salad will depend on your personal preferences. Start with a small amount and add more to taste.
Conclusion:
Lemon orzo pasta salad is a light and refreshing salad that is perfect for summer gatherings. It's easy to make and can be tailored to your own taste preferences. With its bright citrus flavor and variety of vegetables, this salad is sure to be a hit at your next party or potluck.
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