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Roasted Asparagus Lemon Orzo Salad

Perfect for any time of day, this recipe delivers great flavor effortlessly.

Prep Time
45 mins
Cook Time
45 mins
Total Time
1 hr
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Salad
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • 1 1 cup orzo pasta (about 6-7 ounces/170-200 grams)
  • 1 1 pound asparagus, ends trimmed, cut into 2-inch pieces
  • 1 1 pound zucchini, ends trimmed, cut into 1-inch pieces (about 2 small/medium zucchini)
  • 2 2 medium shallots, sliced (or 1/2 cup thinly sliced red onion)
  • 1 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 1 cup cubed fresh mozzarella
  • ¼ to ½ ¼ to ½ cup fresh basil, torn or thinly sliced
  • ½ ½ cup toasted pine nuts or sunflower seeds
Dressing:
  • ⅓ ⅓ cup olive oil
  • ¼ ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
  • 1 1 teaspoon honey
  • 1 1 clove garlic, finely minced
  • Pinch salt and pepper, plus more to taste

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Place the asparagus, zucchini, and shallots on a half sheet pan, toss with oil and a pinch of salt and pepper. Roast in the oven for 10-15 minutes until golden and the veggies are crisp-tender (cook them longer if you want the vegetables softer).
  2. While the vegetables cook, bring a medium pot of lightly salted water to a boil and cook the orzo pasta until al dente, according to the package directions. Drain and set aside to cool for a few minutes.
  3. For the dressing, combine all the dressing ingredients and whisk or blend until smooth. Add additional salt and pepper, to taste, if needed.
  4. I like to wait until the pasta and roasted vegetables are at room temperature before assembling the salad, but you can assemble it while the ingredients are warm.
  5. To assemble, toss the orzo, roasted vegetables, cherry tomatoes, mozzarella, and fresh basil together in a serving bowl. Drizzle the dressing over the top and toss to combine. Top with pine nuts. Taste and add salt and pepper to taste, if needed. The salad can be eaten chilled or at room temperature.

Notes

  • Adaptable: the ingredients for this salad are very adaptable. You can try using other veggies (broccoli, peppers, etc), swapping out the fresh mozzarella for another kind of cheese, or use toasted sunflower seeds in place of the pine nuts.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1 serving Calories 321kcal (16%) Carbohydrates 30g (10%) Protein 12g (24%) Fat 18g (28%) Saturated Fat 4g (20%) Cholesterol 12mg (4%) Sodium 129mg (5%) Fiber 4g (16%) Sugar 7g (14%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 6servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories

% Daily Value*

Serving 1 serving
Calories 321kcal 16%
Carbohydrates 30g 10%
Protein 12g 24%
Fat 18g 28%
Saturated Fat 4g 20%
Cholesterol 12mg 4%
Sodium 129mg 5%
Fiber 4g 16%
Sugar 7g 14%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.