Lemon Orzo Pasta Salad
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I have a lemon obsession, especially in the summer. I’ve spend countless hours zesting lemons for lemon white chocolate cookies, lemon poppyseed muffins, lemon blondies and low carb lemon granola.
Usually, lemon and I come together when I bake. For this one, I wanted something a little different. Lemon pasta salad! It goes perfectly with hot honey lemon pepper wings or on a picnic with honey mustard chicken wraps.
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Easy and ready in minutes. Once you get the orzo cooked it’s quickly thrown together.
- Light and refreshing making for the perfect summer side dish.
- Is it customizable with different toppings.
- This recipe is vegetarian and diary free and with the swap of one ingredient is can be gluten free as well.
- Lemon Orzo Pasta Salad is macro friendly and can be a main meal by adding your favorite protein.
Is this recipe gluten free?
Swap out your orzo with your favorite gluten free orzo for a gluten free side dish. Jovial has a great gluten free option.
What to serve with Lemon Orzo Pasta Salad
This salad can be a side dish at your summer cookout or a main dish. By adding your favorite protein like grilled chicken you have yourself a perfectly macro friendly meal.
Ingredients and Substitutes:
Pasta:
Orzo is one of my favorite types of pasta. It is a thin, oval shaped “rice-like” pasta and in Italy it is known as the little pasta. You can substitute with your favorite gluten free option or a different style pasta if desired.
Veggies:
Using chopped tomatoes, steamed peas and fresh spinach this dish is packed with veggies. Swap out with your favorite or in season vegetables.
Dressing:
Mix this pasta with Lite Italian Dressing or homemade version, balsamic vinegar, fresh lemon and a little salt and pepper. The perfect amount of sweet and tangy.
Add ons:
Cheese: fresh cubed mozzarella or feta
Veggies: asparagus or broccoli
Olives or nuts: kalamata olives or pine nuts
Protein: Chopped chicken, cubed ham or summer sausage. Note if you add in protein to the salad you should increase the amount of Italian Dressing used to keep the salad well dressed.
The flavor combination of Italian Dressing, lemon and balsamic create a sweet and tangy salad. It is super macro friendly too with only 2 grams of fat per serving and a great way to add carbs to any meal.
How to make this easy Lemon Orzo Pasta Salad
Step 1:
Measure and cook Orzo pasta according to package directions.
Step 2:
While the pasta cooks, steam peas, chop tomatoes and add to a bowl with spinach.
Step 3:
When the pasta is done cooking, drain and add to the bowl of vegetables while still hot. This will wilt the spinach.
Step 4:
Add Italian dressing, balsamic vinegar, lemon, salt and pepper and mix well to coat.
Step 5:
Serve immediately or store in the fridge. As it sits in the fridge the flavors will increase.
Check out some of our other easy sides!
Lemon Orzo Pasta Salad
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Ingredients
- 6 oz. Orzo Pasta (measured uncooked)
- 89 g cooked peas
- 3/4 cup chopped cherry tomatoes 100g
- 2 handfuls fresh spinach 30g
- 5 tbsp. Lite Italian Dressing
- 1.5 tbsp. balsamic vinegar 20g
- juice of one lemon wedge – 1/2 a lemon (to your taste)
- salt and pepper
Instructions
- Measure and cook Orzo pasta according to package directions.
- While the pasta cooks, steam peas, chop tomatoes and add to a bowl with spinach.
- When the pasta is done cooking, drain and add to the bowl of vegetables while still hot. This will wilt the spinach.
- Add Italian dressing, balsamic vinegar, lemon, salt and pepper and mix well to coat.
- Serve immediately or store in the fridge. As it sits in the fridge the flavors will increase.Add ons: protein of choice, feta or fresh cubed mozzarella, nuts or olives.
Notes
- Nutritional information is an estimate and will vary with substitutions.
