ORZO & MOZZARELLA SALAD

Orzo & mozzarella salad image

This Mediterranean-inspired pasta salad makes a fresh and vibrant addition to any picnic, barbecue or buffet

Provided by Good Food team

Time 20m

Number Of Ingredients 9

Ingredients

350g orzo or other tiny pasta shape
20g pack basil
4 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
25g parmesan (or vegetarian alternative), finely grated, plus more to serve, if you like
1 garlic clove , very roughly chopped
50g toasted pine nuts
290g pack bocconcini (baby mozzarella balls)
100g semi-dried tomatoes , very roughly chopped
50g bag wild rocket

Steps:

Boil the orzo for 8 mins until tender, then drain and cool under cold water. Drain again, then tip into a large bowl. Meanwhile, tear the basil, stalks and all, into a food processor. Add the oil, Parmesan, garlic and half the pine nuts, then whizz to a thick pesto-like dressing.
Stir the dressing through the orzo, then season. The dressing will seem quite thick, but keep stirring and it will eventually coat all the grains. Add the bocconcini, tomatoes and a handful of the rocket. Scatter with the remaining pine nuts and a little more Parmesan, if you like. Top with more rocket, then serve straight away.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 742 calories, Fat 40 grams fat, SaturatedFat 13 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 71 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 5 grams sugar, Fiber 4 grams fiber, Protein 29 grams protein, Sodium 1.25 milligram of sodium