5.0 from 3 votes
Orzo Pesto Salad Recipe
This orzo pesto salad is the perfect summer side salad. It's easy to make with fresh cherry tomatoes, tiny mozzarella balls, and topped with toasted pine nuts. Plus it's totally customizable. Make it once, and you'll be taking this orzo pesto pasta salad to potlucks and picnics all summer long.
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Cooling time
30 mins
Total Time
50 mins
Servings: 4
Calories: 358 kcal
Course:
Side Dish
Cuisine:
Italian
Ingredients
- 8 ounces (about 1⅓ cups) orzo
- ¼ cup pesto plus more as desired
- ½ cup perlini mozzarella or other fresh mozzarella, chopped
- 10 cherry or grape tomatoes, halved or quartered if large
- 10 pitted Kalamata olives, sliced
- ¼ teaspoon salt plus more for salting the pasta water
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons toasted pine nuts
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water, add salt, and cook the orzo according to the package directions until it is just al dente. Before draining, reserve about a cup of pasta water.
- Drain the orzo and return it immediately to the warm pasta pot. Add about ¼ cup of pesto the orzo and stir it until the pasta is evenly coated. If your pesto is thick, add some of the pasta water about a tablespoon at at time to thin it slightly.
- Transfer the orzo to a glass bowl and let cool to room temperature.
- When cool, add the perlini mozzarella, chopped tomatoes, chopped olives, salt, and pepper, and toss gently to mix.
- Garnish with toasted pine nuts and serve at room temperature.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- When you drain the orzo, reserve a cup of pasta water. Then drain and mix the orzo with pesto while the orzo is still warm, using pasta water to thin the pesto as necessary. This way the orzo absorbs the sauce and your orzo salad tastes so much better!
- Lightly toasting pine nuts brings out their flavor and makes a crunchier garnish for the pesto orzo salad.
Nutrition Information
Calories
358kcal
(18%)
Carbohydrates
46g
(15%)
Protein
12g
(24%)
Fat
14g
(22%)
Saturated Fat
2g
(10%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
2g
Monounsaturated Fat
2g
Cholesterol
6mg
(2%)
Sodium
463mg
(19%)
Potassium
254mg
(7%)
Fiber
3g
(12%)
Sugar
3g
(6%)
Vitamin A
561IU
(11%)
Vitamin C
10mg
(11%)
Calcium
93mg
(9%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 4Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 358
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 358kcal | 18% |
| Carbohydrates | 46g | 15% |
| Protein | 12g | 24% |
| Fat | 14g | 22% |
| Saturated Fat | 2g | 10% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 2g | 12% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 2g | 10% |
| Cholesterol | 6mg | 2% |
| Sodium | 463mg | 19% |
| Potassium | 254mg | 5% |
| Fiber | 3g | 12% |
| Sugar | 3g | 6% |
| Vitamin A | 561IU | 11% |
| Vitamin C | 10mg | 11% |
| Calcium | 93mg | 9% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.