Summer Vegetable Orzo Pasta Salad
Summer Vegetable Orzo Pasta Salad is a fresh, flavorful orzo pasta salad packed with grilled vegetables, fresh basil and tossed in a red wine dressing. It’s the perfect summer side dish!
I’m not sure why, but I forget about pasta salad most of the time. Normally when I do serve one, it’s my Greek Orzo Pasta Salad. I love it so much, and I always tell myself I need to make it more often.
And then I just forget. 🙁
We were having some family over for dinner, and I needed a side dish that would be easy and feed a crowd. I had a truckload of veggies and fresh basil from the farmer’s market, so I decided to make this orzo pasta salad.
It was a huge hit!
I took a simple approach to this recipe because I really wanted the flavors of the sweet corn, zucchini, heirloom cherry tomatoes, and fresh basil to shine.
There’s no pesto, cheese, or bells and whistles — just pure, simple flavor from my gorgeous summer produce. 🙂
This orzo pasta salad recipe is simple, fresh, and clean, but it was anything but plain. I’ve become completely addicted to this salad, and have made it at least 3 times in the past month or so.
One day I’m going to try it with homemade pesto sauce!
Why overcomplicate a good thing? Sometimes simplicity is best, especially when we’re dealing with summer’s finest. I’ve been living on grilled corn and zucchini lately, so obviously those made an appearance here, and the tomatoes right now are outrageously good.
I picked up a basket of gorgeous heirloom cherry tomatoes and those colors….they get me every time!
The clincher for this delicious pasta for me is the gaggle of fresh basil I added to it. Sure basil pesto is great, but there’s something about fresh basil, cut into a confetti-like chiffonade that makes things super special.
We get that fresh basil flavor that just heightens the flavors of everything else. Just be warned that you shouldn’t chop your basil until just before you’re ready to serve the salad as it turns black fairly quickly once it’s chopped.
Toss it into this orzo pasta salad last minute — confetti-style — and it will really seem like a summer party.
This pasta salad just goes to show you that clean, simple, and fresh not only means easy — it means delicious.
The colors, grill marks, and basil confetti do all the talking for you. This is a side dish that not only feeds a crowd — it’s a straight up crowd pleaser, too. 🙂
More summer side dishes you’ll love:
Macaroni salad by Food Network
Summer Orzo Pasta Salad
Ingredients
For the vinaigrette:
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinager
- 2 teaspoons pure maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
- 6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- salt and pepper to taste
For the pasta salad
- 8 ounces orzo pasta
- 1/2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 large zucchini stem removed and cut lengthwise into 1/4" thick strips
- 8 ounces heirloom or regular cherry tomatoes halved or quartered depending on size
- 1/3 cup chopped red onion
- 10 large fresh basil leaves cut into chiffonade*
Instructions
Prepare the vinaigrette:
- Place the vinegar, maple syrup, mustard, and lemon juice in a small bowl and whisk until combined. Add the olive oil in a slow, steady stream while whisking constantly until emulsified. Add salt and pepper, to taste, whisk once more, and set aside.
Prepare the salad:
- Cook the pasta according to package instructions. Place in a colander and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process. Once drained, place in a large serving bowl.
- While the pasta is cooking, preheat the grill to medium. Toss the zucchini slices with the 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil and salt and pepper to taste. Grill 2-3 minutes per side or until nicely charred and softened. Remove from heat and chop into 1/2" chunks, and place in the bowl with the pasta.
- Place the corn on the grill with the zucchini, and grill 12-15 minutes, turning ever 4 minutes or so until nicely charred. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly. Cut the corn from the cob and place in the bowl with the pasta.
- Add the cherry tomatoes and red onion to the pasta, and toss with enough of the dressing to coat. Toss in the basil just before serving -- do not chop it ahead of time as it turns black fairly quickly once it's chopped. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- *Basil chiffonade is done by stacking the leaves, rolling them up, then slicing them perpendicular to the roll. Be sure not to chop the basil until just before serving as it turns black fairly quickly after chopping!
- Frozen corn may be used as a time saver.
- The zucchini and corn may be sautéed or cooked in your favorite manner instead of grilling.
Nutrition
Nutrition is estimated using a food database and is only intended to be used as a guideline for informational purposes.
43 Comments on “Summer Vegetable Orzo Pasta Salad”
This pasta is seriously beyond amazing!!!!!
Thanks so much, Jocelyn! 🙂
Love pasta salads and the use of orzo is just perfect! Lovely photos!
Orzo makes pasta salad seem so much lighter — thanks, Mira! 🙂
What a pretty salad, Marcie! I love how light this is! I love using orzo for pasta salads but always forget to do so. This sounds delicious with the fresh veggies in here!
Thanks so much, Gayle! The orzo really does lighten this up — it’s my favorite pasta for pasta salad!
I’m all for keeping things simple in the summertime! When the produce is so fresh, it really needs very little adornment. This salad is so pretty Marcie!
Thanks so much, Allie, and you’re so right! Hope you have a great weekend! 🙂
This looks awesome! I love orzo! 🙂
Thanks, Medha, and you and me both! 🙂
What a beautiful Summer salad! I love the looks of this!
Thank you, Annie! Hope you have a wonderful weekend. 🙂
Love how light and simple you kept this pasta salad! You can’t beat all those flavorful summer veggies! It looks so fresh and delicious – the perfect summer side!
Thanks, Kelly! You can’t ask for more than delicious produce! 🙂
Dear Marcie, both salads looks delicious. I am the same way too; I usually make orzo when I am in the mood for pasta salad…great minds think alike because tonight I’m making orzo and lamb souvlaki. This looks bright and wonderful dear. xo, Catherine
Can I come over for dinner, Catherine?? I love souvlaki! Have a wonderful weekend! 🙂
I love pasta salads and this one is simply stunning!!
Thank you, Ami! 🙂
Sometimes simple is best, especially when you’re swimming in fresh summer produce! Looks delicious, Marcie!
That’s the truth, isn’t it? Thanks, Denise! 🙂
Thanks for the reminder that I really don’t use orzo enough. This looks like a nice salad to take to a BBQ.
I LOVE salads like these in the summer! So gorgeous, light and refreshing! Hope you have a great weekend Marcie 🙂
What a great looking summer salad Marcie!
I definitely forget about pasta salads too! I love how many summer veggies you crammed in here – my kind of dish! And I totally lol’d at the over-complicating things – I have a tendency to do the same thing 🙂 Have a great weekend!!
It was almost more veggies than pasta but there’s nothing wrong with that! haha Here’s to keeping things under-complicated, too. Hope you have a wonderful weekend, Ashley! 🙂
I’m going to get Orzo, this salad look delectable!
Thank you, Ilona — orzo is the best! 🙂
I love orzo for summer pasta salads!!! light and not too heavy!!! this summer veggie one looks delicious!!!
Thanks, Alice! Nobody wants heavy food in the summer, right? 🙂 Hope you have a great weekend!
Oh this salad did have plenty of corn — I can’t seem to leave it out of anything right now! Thanks, Mary Frances, and have a great weekend!
I love orzo, and this pasta salad looks divine! so vibrant and refreshing!
Thank you, Anu! Gotta love that summer produce. 🙂
I always forget about pasta salad too. And orzo. It’s so good. I got to start making it more often. And it’s such an awesome way to use fresh summer veggies!
I’ve been making up for lost time! haha Thanks, Liz! 🙂
When is orzo not delicious?! This pasta salad looks too good and I love how seasonal it is.
Thank you, Thalia! I’ve never met an orzo dish I didn’t like. 🙂
You’re so welcome, and thank you for stopping by! 🙂
This is totally my kind of pasta salad! Packed with delicious summer veggies, light, and simple! Perfection!
Thank you, Cathy! 🙂
Yum, yum, yum! My favorite kind of salad! Orzo pasta is the best!
It is the best! I’m glad you agree, Deb. 🙂
I almost never make pasta salads or think to remember to make them either! But they are so easy and refreshing when it is hot outside!
They’re the perfect summer side! I need to remember that. haha