This primavera pesto orzo salad is pure goodness. The orzo pasta salad is packed full of colorful and fresh veggies like broccoli, peppers, and peas. Toss it all with an oil-free, ultra-fresh pesto made with Brazil nuts and loads of herbs. Of course, the icing on the cake is the tangy olives and juicy cherry tomatoes that are abundant in the warmer months. Perfect for a summer BBQ or days by the pool!
What is Orzo Pesto Salad?
Instead of larger noodles, small, rice-shaped orzo is coated in an herbaceous homemade pesto sauce filled with the flavors of the season. Add in lots of veggies, like peas, peppers, broccoli, and kale for extra color and sweetness.
It's hearty, nutty, and cheesy, yet also light and refreshing.
This is the perfect side dish for any summery meal, or add some cannellini beans to make it a main dish.
Why you’ll love this Pesto Orzo Salad Recipe
- Fun twist on classic basil pesto with lots of fresh herbs
- Loaded with seasonal flavors and textures
- Great for taking along to a BBQ or party
- Fun alternative to traditional cold pasta salads
- Tastes even better the next day as the flavors mingle together
Ingredients for Pesto Orzo Pasta Salad
This orzo pesto pasta salad 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 - Orzo is a small rice-shaped pasta. I love orzo because it has a really nice texture and mouthfeel. It cooks really quickly which makes it ideal for a fast pasta salad.
- Veggies - For lots of color and texture, add orange bell peppers, broccoli, frozen green peas, red onion, and kale. Make sure to cut everything into bite-sized pieces.
- Fresh herbs - We're loading up on fresh basil leaves, parsley, dill, and oregano. In addition to the pesto, I recommend adding extra chopped herbs. You get even more flavor and a little extra flavor.
- Fresh lemon juice
- Cherry tomatoes
- Kalamata olives
For the Oil-Free Pesto Sauce
- Brazil nuts - Brazil nuts are rich, creamy, and oily and make the perfect swap for oil in pesto. You can also use cashews, almonds, or pine nuts, or whichever nuts you prefer.
- Garlic
- Lemon juice
- White balsamic vinegar - This adds a sweet acidity. Plus, you get that tangy balsamic punch without dyeing everything brown.
- Nutritional yeast - For a cheesy funk.
- Fresh basil, parsley, dill, and oregano - Instead of just basil, I like to load up on lots of different types of herbs. Feel free to adjust to your preferences.
How to Make Primavera Pesto Orzo Salad
- Cook orzo until al dente according to package directions. Add broccoli florets to the cooking pasta for the last 1-2 minutes. Drain well and rinse with cold water.
- Blend pesto ingredients together in a food processor. Set aside.
- To a large 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.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
Tips for Making the Best Orzo Pesto Salad
- Use all the herbs. I know it's tempting to stick with just basil, but please do me a favor and find the extra herbs, too. They add layers of flavor and really give this spring pesto so much flavor.
- Add "cheese." Good ol' nooch adds plenty of cheesiness, but you can also add vegan parmesan or feta cheese.
- Make it a main meal. Add some white beans for extra protein and fiber.
- Load up on seasonal goodness. This recipe can flex with the season. Feel free to change the fresh vegetables to whatever is fresh from the garden, like juicy heirloom tomatoes. I'm also partial to sprinkling capers, artichokes, or sun-dried tomatoes for more of a Mediterranean feel.
FAQs
I have been dabbling lately in more oil-free cooking. There are some schools of thought that 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 of extra virgin olive oil to the pesto to make it a little thinner.
I'm partial to kale since it can sit in the pesto for a few days, but you can definitely use different greens instead. Baby spinach or arugula are a great choice. Just be sure to add them right before serving as they will wilt in the fridge.
Nope. I like to use Brazil nuts in particular, but you can totally make a nut-free pesto with pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, or even hemp seeds. In this recipe, you may need to add a little oil to help bring everything together.
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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.
Nutrition
More Vegan Orzo Recipes
Ready in about 6 minutes, orzo is one of my fave ingredients! These vegan orzo recipes will help you get food on the table in no time.
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!