Pioneer Woman Orzo Salad

What To Serve With Orzo Salad

• Grilled meats: Orzo Salad is a great side dish to serve with grilled meats such as chicken, beef, pork, or lamb. The salad’s light and refreshing flavors complement the smokiness of the grilled meats perfectly.
• Seafood: Orzo Salad is also a great accompaniment to seafood dishes such as grilled fish, shrimp, or scallops. The tangy lemon vinaigrette and feta cheese in the salad complement the flavors of the seafood well.
• Mediterranean-style dishes: Orzo Salad is a perfect side for Mediterranean-style dishes such as Greek gyros, falafel, or tzatziki. The salad’s light and refreshing flavors complement the bold spices and herbs used in these dishes.
• Soups and stews: If you’re looking for something heartier to serve with Orzo Salad, soups and stews are a great option. The salad’s light and refreshing flavors can balance out the heartiness of soups and stews like Minestrone, Lentil Soup, or Chilis.

Recipe Variations

• Mediterranean Orzo Salad: Add some chopped Kalamata olives, sun-dried tomatoes, and chopped red onion to the Orzo Salad for a Mediterranean twist. This variation will give you a burst of flavors and a nice contrast of textures.
• Greek Orzo Salad: Make it more Greek by adding some chopped cucumber, red onion, kalamata olives, and feta cheese. You can also add some chopped grilled chicken or shrimp to make it more filling
• Pesto Orzo Salad: Add some prepared basil pesto to the dressing before tossing it with the orzo, vegetables, and feta cheese for a flavorful twist on the classic recipe.
• Asparagus Orzo Salad: Add some cooked asparagus to the Orzo salad for a new dimension of flavor and texture. Asparagus will give a nice crunch and a strong green flavor to the salad.
• Roasted Vegetable Orzo Salad: Roast some vegetables like bell peppers, zucchini and eggplant in the oven or on the grill, add them to the orzo mixture and dress it as desired. Roasting will give the vegetables a caramelized and smoky flavor that will make the salad even more delicious.
• Southwest Orzo Salad: Add some black beans, corn, diced bell pepper, diced red onion, and some diced avocado. use a lime vinaigrette instead of the lemon dressing for a southwestern flavor.

Vegan, Keto, And Gluten-free Version Of Orzo Salad

• Vegan version: To make a vegan version of Orzo Salad, you can replace the feta cheese with vegan cheese or a vegan feta alternative, and use a vegan-friendly dressing. To make it more filling you can add some grilled or marinated vegetables, or some chickpeas or lentils.
• Keto version: To make a Keto version of Orzo Salad, you can replace the orzo pasta with a low-carb pasta alternative such as spaghetti squash or zucchini noodles. Also, replace the dressing with a keto-friendly vinaigrette that uses a sugar-free sweetener instead of sugar or honey. To increase the fat and protein content, you can add some chopped cooked bacon, or grilled meat, or some nuts and seeds.
• Gluten-free version: To make a gluten-free version of Orzo Salad, you can replace the orzo pasta with a gluten-free alternative such as quinoa, brown rice, or chickpea pasta. Be sure to check the labels of the other ingredients you are using, such as the feta cheese, to ensure that they are gluten-free.

Recipe Substitutes

• Orzo pasta: If you don’t have orzo, you can use other small pasta shapes such as farfalle (bow tie), ditalini, or Israeli couscous.
• Cherry tomatoes: If you don’t have cherry tomatoes, you can use diced tomatoes, or even finely diced bell pepper or diced cucumber
• Cucumber: If you don’t have cucumber, you can use diced bell pepper or diced zucchini.
• Parsley: If you don’t have parsley, you can use other herbs like cilantro, basil, or dill.
• Feta cheese: If you don’t have feta cheese, you can use crumbled goat cheese, blue cheese, or grated parmesan cheese.
• Lemon juice: If you don’t have lemon juice, you can use lime juice or white wine vinegar.
• Olive oil: If you don’t have olive oil, you can use other neutral oils like avocado oil, grapeseed oil, or canola oil.
• Garlic: If you don’t have fresh garlic, you can use garlic powder or minced garlic from a jar

Other Dressings To Use

• Balsamic vinaigrette: This dressing is made with balsamic vinegar, olive oil, Dijon mustard, garlic, and honey. It adds a tangy and slightly sweet flavor to the salad.
• Greek vinaigrette: This dressing is made with olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, garlic, dried oregano, and honey. It adds a tangy, herbaceous flavor to the salad.
• Ranch dressing: Ranch dressing is a creamy dressing made with mayonnaise, sour cream, milk, and herbs. It adds a creamy, herbaceous flavor to the salad.
• Caesar dressing: Caesar dressing is made with mayonnaise, Parmesan cheese, garlic, anchovies, lemon juice, and mustard. It adds a creamy, tangy, and salty flavor to the salad.
• Creamy dill dressing: This dressing is made with sour cream, mayonnaise, fresh dill, lemon juice, and garlic. It adds a creamy and herby flavor to the salad.

How Do You Keep Orzo From Getting Mushy

Cook the orzo for the correct amount of time, drain and rinse it under cold water, dry it before adding it to the salad. Avoid overcooking and store it properly in an airtight container in the fridge.

Should Orzo Be Rinsed Before Cooking

It is not necessary to rinse orzo pasta before cooking, as it does not need to be cleaned like some other types of pasta. However, rinsing orzo after it has been cooked can help to stop the cooking process and prevent it from becoming mushy.

More Salad Recipes

• Pioneer Woman Carrot Salad
• Pioneer Woman Grape Salad
• Pioneer Woman Chicken Salad With Grapes

Pioneer Woman Orzo Salad Nutrition Facts

Here is an approximate nutritional value for a 1/2 cup (85g) of cooked Orzo pasta:

Calories: 190

Protein: 7g

Carbohydrates: 40g

Fat: 1g

Fiber: 2g

Sugar: 1g

Sodium: 10mg

Nutrition Facts

Servings 6

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Amount Per Serving

Calories 190

% Daily Value *

Total Fat 1g2%

Sodium 10mg1%

Total Carbohydrate 40g14%

Dietary Fiber 2g8%

Sugars 1g

Protein 7g15%

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* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.