This shiny orzo pasta salad with creamy goat cheese and grilled veggies is a 30-minute summer season aspect. Tossed with tangy balsamic-mustard dressing and herby basil, it hits the spot each time.
Why You’ll Love This Orzo Pasta Salad Recipe
This might be your new favourite 30-minute recipe for weeknights while you want a hearty and refreshing aspect dish.
- Nice for the summer season. This orzo salad is filled with contemporary veggies like juicy tomatoes, bell peppers, and tender zucchini.
- Fast. It’s prepared in half an hour!
- Versatile. Flip this aspect dish into the principle dish with shrimp, juicy steak, hen, or turkey.
- Newbie-friendly. You solely must grill the veggies, prepare dinner the orzo, and blend nicely.
What You’ll Want
The garlicky balsamic-mustard dressing balances out the veggies’ pure sweetness. Scroll to the recipe card on the backside of the submit for actual quantities.
For the Grilled Veggies
- Zucchini – Don’t peel it in order that it holds its form nicely.
- Squash – You possibly can swap it for extra zucchini or candy potatoes.
- Crimson onion – Yellow onion works too.
- Cherry tomatoes – Don’t fear in the event that they’re not as plump anymore.
- Crimson peppers – You should use any colour of bell pepper.
- Olive oil – Vegetable, corn, and canola oil are good swaps.
- Salt and pepper – You should use kosher salt or garlic salt for this.
To Make the Dressing
- Balsamic vinegar – Cut back the quantity by half in the event you use Balsamic Discount.
- Stone-ground mustard – Dijon mustard works too.
- Dried basil – Be at liberty to make use of contemporary basil.
- Garlic – Contemporary garlic and garlic paste are finest.
- Salt and pepper – I choose kosher salt and freshly-cracked black pepper.
- Olive oil – It’s also possible to use avocado oil.
For the Salad
- Orzo – Add common or whole-wheat orzo.
- Goat cheese – Plain goat cheese is finest. Attempt to use creamier variations in order that it melts faster.
Simple Variations
Buttery shrimp, juicy hen, and sauteed mushrooms are easy methods so as to add extra taste and texture to each chew.
How To Make Grilled Vegetable Orzo Pasta Salad
It’s identical to making your favourite pasta salad however with a mustard-vinegar dressing and tangy goat cheese. Scroll to the underside of the submit for the total recipe card.
- Prep the veggies. Preheat the grill to medium-high warmth. Toss all of the veggies in a bowl with olive oil, salt, and pepper.
- Grill them. Place the veggies on the grill for 10 minutes, or till tender. Take away them from the warmth and set them apart.
- Make the dressing. Whisk the entire dressing substances collectively till clean and barely thickened. It ought to follow the again of the spoon.
- Prepare dinner the orzo. Deliver a pot of water to a boil. Add the orzo and prepare dinner it for 8-10 minutes, or based on bundle directions. Drain nicely and set it apart.
- Combine every thing. Toss the orzo, grilled veggies, goat cheese, and balsamic dressing in a bowl till the cheese is totally melted. Serve and luxuriate in!
Ideas for Success
This simple orzo pasta salad is nice for utilizing up leftover roasted veggies and steak.
- Swap the cheese. For those who don’t really feel like utilizing goat cheese, go for freshly-grated parmesan cheese or feta. Feta received’t soften but it surely’ll add an analogous tang.
- Use leftovers. If you’re in a rush, add my Air Fryer Roasted Carrots or Roasted Inexperienced Beans & Mushrooms to the orzo to avoid wasting time. This fashion you don’t should grill the veggies from scratch.
- Make it further creamy. Add 1/4 cup heavy cream or half-and-half when mixing every thing collectively for a creamier texture.
- Crank up the warmth. Sprinkle the pasta salad with crimson pepper flakes, Aleppo pepper, or drizzle with chili oil to style for a bit of warmth.
- Flip it into the principle dish. Chop up leftover Grilled Filet Mignon, Pan Seared Ribeye, or Solid Iron Cowboy Steak and toss it with the salad for a major dish.
What To Serve With Orzo Salad
This creamy orzo pasta salad is a superb aspect on your favourite dinners. Serve it with my Pecan Crusted Salmon or Garlic Butter Baked Salmon. I additionally find it irresistible with my New York Strip Steak with Balsamic Discount or Air Fryer Rooster Breast. Different aspect concepts embrace Air Fryer Asparagus and Air Fryer Inexperienced Beans.
Correct Storage
Make certain the leftovers are absolutely cooled earlier than storing.
- Fridge: Place it in an hermetic container for as much as 3 days. Discard it instantly if it tastes bitter.
- To reheat it: Microwave it in 20-second increments till heat.
Extra Simple Summer season Facet Dishes
Description
This creamy orzo pasta salad recipe with balsamic-mustard dressing and freshly-grilled veggies is a simple 30-minute aspect.
The Veggies:
The Dressing:
The Relaxation:
- For the Veggies:Preheat grill to med-high warmth. Reduce up all greens.
- Place all veggies in giant bowl and season with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Toss to coat.
- Put veggies in grill basket and grill for 10 minutes, stirring often, or till tender.
- Take 2 cups of the completed veggies and put aside to make use of later this week. Put the remaining in a bowl and put aside for the remainder of this dish.
- For the Dressing: Within the meantime, add balsamic vinegar, stone floor mustard, garlic, basil, salt, and pepper to a bowl.
- Whisk till totally mixed,then slowly add olive oil. Proceed to whisk till dressing thickens. (you’ll know it’s performed when it sticks to the again of a spoon)
- For the Relaxation: Fill a medium saucepan with water, carry to a boil. Pour orzo in boiling water and prepare dinner for 8-10 minutes. As soon as completed pour strained orzo over grilled greens. Crumble softened goat cheese over orzo and pour balsamic dressing over total combination. Combine collectively till cheese is melted and every thing is totally mixed.
