The best summer orzo pasta salad
This orzo primavera pasta salad with herby pesto is awesome. The oil-free vegan pesto is super nutritious with Brazil nuts and fresh herbs. The orzo pasta salad is packed full of colorful and fresh veggies like broccoli, peppers and peas. Of course the icing on the cake are the tangy olives and garden fresh cherry tomatoes that are abundant in the warmer months. This salad recipe is perfect for picnics or days by the pool. Or it is a great vegan side dish for a summer barbecue. However you choose to eat this summery pasta salad, I know you will love it like I do.
What is Orzo?
Orzo is a small pasta shape that resembles rice. You may recognize it from the boxed rice pilaf that you probably enjoyed as a child. I love orzo because it has a really nice texture and mouthfeel. It cooks really quickly which makes it ideal for a quick pasta salad. I also add orzo to soups because it has such a great texture that goes so well with veggie full recipes. It works so well in this orzo primavera pasta salad.
Why oil-free pesto?
I have been dabbling lately in more oil-free cooking. There are some schools of thought who believe oil consumption contributes to inflammation in the body. While I am not a Doctor or Nutritionist, I do like to keep up with reading evidence-based and scientific information about diet. Here is an article from Forks Over Knives to read if you are interested in learning more. I don't plan on going completely oil-free anytime soon, but I do like to make oil-free recipes when I can. After all it can't hurt to reduce excess oil consumption, can it? This orzo primavera pasta salad recipe was really easy and delicious without oil but if you prefer you may add about 2 tbsp to the pesto.
Ingredients for orzo primavera pasta salad
This orzo primavera is super healthy! It has a myriad of colorful veggies and fresh herbs. If you are allergic to gluten, I encourage you to substitute a gluten free pasta like chickpea or lentil. Or if you want to be grain free, you could also substitute roasted cubed sweet potatoes or a can of drained chickpeas for the orzo.
- orzo pasta
- orange bell pepper
- broccoli
- frozen green peas
- red onion
- kale
- parsley
- dill
- basil
- oregano
- salt
- pepper
- lemons
- cherry tomatoes
- kalamata olives
- Brazil nuts or nuts of choice like cashew or almond.
- garlic
- water
- sweet white balsamic vinegar
- nutritional yeast
How to Make Orzo Primavera
- Cook orzo according to package. Add broccoli florets to the cooking pasta for the last 1-2 minutes. Drain well and rinse with cold water.
- Make Herby Oil-Free Vegan Pesto and set aside.
- To a large mixing bowl first add the kale with salt and lemon and massage gently. Then add orzo, broccoli, peppers, peas, parsley, dill, tomatoes, olives, and herby pesto.
- Mix well and taste for salt. Add more salt if desired.
Other delicious orzo recipes
Orzo Primavera Pasta Salad
Ingredients
For Salad
- 1 pound orzo pasta cooked, rinsed and drained well
- ½ orange bell pepper chopped
- ½ head broccoli cut into florets, blanched
- 1 cup frozen green peas blanched
- ¼ cup red onion chopped
- 6 large kale leaves stemmed and chopped
- ¼ cup parsley chopped
- ¼ cup dill chopped
- ½ tsp salt
- pepper to your liking
- 1 lemon squeezed
- 8 cherry tomatoes halved
- 10 kalamata olives chopped
For Herby Oil-Free Vegan Pesto
- ¾ cup brazil nuts or nuts of choice
- 1 clove garlic
- ¼ cup water
- 2 lemons juiced
- 2 tbsp white balsamic vinegar
- 6 basil leaves
- handful parsley
- handful dill
- 3 sprigs oregano
- 2 tbsp nutritional yeast
Instructions
- Cook orzo according to package. Add broccoli florets to the cooking pasta for the last 1-2 minutes. Drain well and rinse with cold water.
- Make Herby Oil-Free Vegan Pesto and set aside.
- To a large mixing bowl first add the kale with salt and lemon and massage gently. Then add orzo, broccoli, peppers, peas, parsley, dill, tomatoes, olives, and herby pesto.
- Mix well and taste for salt. Add more salt if desired.
amber jones
Made this today and it was absolutely deeeelish! I’m having it with some vego meatballs (for protein) and I defo added more olives cause OLIVES ARE LIFE!
Thanks for inspiring me with your beautiful food
Sara Tercero
Wow so happy you enjoyed it. I bet that was a great combo and I totally agree about olives. Thank you!