How do you cook orzo for pasta salad?

Cook the orzo according to the instructions on the pasta box until it is al dente (cooked but still slightly firm in the middle, not overcooked) so that it doesn't get mushy.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eYou'll also want to drain rinse the pasta under cold water once it finishes cooking. This will help it to maintain its texture once mixed into the salad.

What is orzo pasta salad?

Orzo pasta salad is the same as pasta salad, only it's made with orzo noodles! Traditional pasta salad is usually made with rotini noodles (spirals). u003ca href=u0022https://www.allrecipes.com/article/what-is-orzo/u0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eOrzo pastau003c/au003e is a small pasta noodle shaped like a grain of rice.

What dressing should be used for orzo pasta salad?

The most classic, traditional dressing is a red wine vinaigrette. This recipe includes a simple way to make this dressing. You could swap this for similar light vinaigrettes that are store-bought or homemade, like a Greek or Italian dressing.

Orzo Pasta Salad — Her Wholesome Kitchen

Description

This greek orzo pasta salad is light and fresh. It's loaded with tasty mix-ins like feta cheese, tomatoes, olives, fresh herbs, chickpeas and more. The dressing is a simple, classic red wine vinaigrette.

Ingredients

Scale

2 cups orzo
1 teaspoon salt
1 ½ cups sliced cucumbers (about 2 small cucumbers)
2 cups halved cherry tomatoes
1 (15 ounce) can chickpeas, drained
¼ cup diced red onion
8 ounces feta cheese, cubed
½ cup sliced & pitted black olives
⅓ cup fresh parsley, chopped

Dressing:

⅓ cup olive oil
3 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper

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Instructions

Cook the pasta: fill a large pot with water and add 1 teaspoon of salt. Bring the pot to a boil and cook the orzo according to package directions until al dente (cooked but still slightly firm in the middle, not overcooked or mushy).
Make the dressing: while the pasta cooks, make the dressing. Stir together all of the dressing ingredients in a small bowl.
Rinse the pasta: drain and rinse the cooked pasta under cold water.
Mix the salad: add the pasta and remaining salad ingredients to a large bowl. Stir. Drizzle with the dressing and stir.
Serve: taste and season with additional salt and pepper if desired. Optionally, refrigerate for 30 mins before serving, which will make the flavors stronger.

Notes

Dressing: you can also use a store-bought dressing (Italian or Greek) and use about ½ cup.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Category: Main Course, Side Dish
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: Greek Inspired

Keywords: orzo, pasta salad, greek, italian, cold, summer, mediterranean