Bruschetta Orzo Pasta Salad
Fresh and flavorful, this bruschetta orzo pasta salad is going to be a summertime favorite! Bonus: No mayo or yogurt so it's great for warm-weather picnics.
Servings: 16 (side)
Ingredients
- 1 box (16 oz.) uncooked orzo pasta
- 3 cups small-diced fresh tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons finely minced red onion
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil (see note)
- 2 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar (see note)
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ cup minced fresh basil
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook pasta to al dente according to package directions. Drain and rinse with cold water.1 box (16 oz.) uncooked orzo pasta
- Meanwhile, in a large mixing bowl, combine tomatoes, onion, garlic, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, black pepper, and salt. Stir to combine, cover, and set aside for 15 minutes to marinate tomatoes.3 cups small-diced fresh tomatoes, 2 tablespoons finely minced red onion, 1 clove garlic, minced, ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil, 2 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar, ¼ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- Mix together pasta and tomato mixture until all ingredients are combined. Add basil and Parmesan cheese and stir to combine.½ cup minced fresh basil, 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- Serve immediately or store covered in refrigerator for up to 3 days. If not serving immediately, reserve basil and add just before serving.
Video
Notes
- Use white balsamic vinegar. Traditional balsamic vinegar is okay but it will change the color of this salad.
- If desired, soak the onions in ice water before adding them to the salad. It's optional, but it takes the strength of them down a notch and prevents them from being overwhelming.
- Choose a variety of colors of tomatoes for the best visual appeal.
- I recommend using high-quality, flavorful, extra-virgin olive oil. It's such a fresh, light salad so the flavor of the olive oil really shines through. Using a great tasting olive oil will really make the flavors pop and elevate this orzo pasta salad from pretty good to outstanding.
Nutrition
Calories: 169kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 5mg | Sodium: 149mg | Potassium: 148mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 327IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 67mg | Iron: 1mg
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