Best Festive Orzo Salad Recipes

FESTIVE ORZO SALAD

Festive Orzo Salad image

Colorful, fresh, non-complicated pasta salad that's great for potlucks or as part of a holiday feast. Best when served at room temperature. The feta cheese is a wonderful compliment to the fresh veggies!

Provided by ragsdale_donna

Categories Brunch

Time 25m

Yield 20 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 11

Ingredients

1 (1 lb) box orzo pasta (rice shaped pasta)
1 medium red onion, finely chopped
1 small red bell pepper, finely chopped
1 small yellow bell pepper, finely chopped
4 stalks celery, finely chopped
1 (6 ounce) can black olives, drained well & chopped
1 cup feta cheese, crumbled
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil, to taste
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar, to taste
1 tablespoon salt, to taste
2 teaspoons pepper, to taste

Steps:

Boil Orzo as directed on package, drain well
In a large mixing bowl, combine 1/4 cup of olive oil to Orzo while cooling to keep pasta from clumping together.
Add chopped ingredients to cooled (room temperature)orzo and mix lightly. Add remainder of olive oil.
Add Apple Cider Vinegar to taste mixing lightly.
Add Feta Cheese and mix.
Add Salt and Pepper to taste. Be sure to add salt after the Feta Cheese, and taste check often, as Feta Cheese is very salty.
You can add more or less olive oil to taste.
Serve at room temperature in a clear bowl to show off colors.
This can sit out during potlucks and be refrigerated later for wonderful left-overs!

CHRISTMAS PASTA SALAD

Christmas Pasta Salad image

The orzo in this salad is reminiscent of pine needles and when dressed in pesto brings a lovely green hue. Perlini mozzarella balls become ornaments, as do cherry tomatoes and ribbons of basil and pepperoni. I do not add salt as I find the pepperoni and pesto to be ample enough. Additional toppings to consider are slivers of red onion, black olives, and diced green bell pepper. I don't like balsamic vinegar, thus the lemon juice.

Provided by thedailygourmet

Categories Salad 100+ Pasta Salad Recipes Tomato Pasta Salad Recipes

Time 8h35m

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 7

Ingredients

1 (16 ounce) package uncooked orzo pasta
⅓ cup pesto, or to taste
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
4 ounces mozzarella cheese balls or pearls
¼ cup sliced pepperoni, cut into strips
3 large fresh basil leaves, julienned

Steps:

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook orzo in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until tender yet firm to the bite, about 11 minutes. Drain and transfer to a large bowl.
Add pesto and lemon juice to the orzo; toss to coat. Mix in tomatoes, mozzarella cheese balls, and pepperoni strips. Refrigerate for 8 hours to overnight.
Mix in basil right before serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 330.8 calories, Carbohydrate 43.8 g, Cholesterol 19.9 mg, Fat 11 g, Fiber 2.3 g, Protein 14.7 g, SaturatedFat 4 g, Sodium 288.8 mg, Sugar 2.5 g

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