Grilled Vegetable Orzo Pasta Salad

Grilled Vegetable Orzo Pasta Saladis created of orzo, fresh tomatoes, basil, vinegar, and oil tossed with grilled veggies. It's simple to prepare ahead of time for the week as a lunch or as a side dish for anything you're cooking. You should also try this orzo with tomato and zucchini and this shrimp scampi with broccoli orzo.

 This vegetarian orzo pasta salad is excellent as a side dish or meatless main course because it has grilled vegetables from the farmers market.

Is orzo pasta?

Yes! Orzo is a pasta that resembles rice and is cooked in a kettle of boiling water. For this dish, we're going to add the orzo to a cold salad, so after draining it, give it a quick rinse under cold water.

Orzo Salad Ingredients:

• 1 1/4 cups uncooked orzo pasta, wheat or gluten-free
• 1 cup chopped cherry tomatoes
• 1 clove minced garlic
• extra virgin olive oil spray
• 1 small red onion, quartered
• 1 red bell pepper, seeded and sliced into 4 pieces
• 1 yellow bell pepper, seeded and sliced into 4 pieces
• 1 large, 10 ounce zucchini, sliced into 1/4 inch thick rounds
• kosher salt
• black pepper, to taste
• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1/4 cup chopped basil

Instructions

1. Follow the directions on the package to prepare the orzo in salted water; after draining, rinse under cold water, transfer to a large dish, and combine with the tomatoes, 1 tablespoon of the oil, and the garlic.
2. In the meantime, spritz the zucchini, bell peppers, and onions with olive oil and season with a pinch of salt and black pepper.
3. Vegetables should be covered and grilled on oiled grill grates for 10–12 minutes or until soft and faintly browned (or broil 4 inches from flame).
4. Slice into 1/2-inch pieces after cooling slightly and setting aside on a cutting board.
5. Top with basil leaves after tossing with the remaining vinegar and olive oil.

Variations:

• Another variety of little pasta, such as elbow, farfalle, or orecchiette, may be used in place of orzo.
• To the salad, add feta or goat cheese.
• Substitute yellow squash for the zucchini and shallot for the red onion.
• You are welcome to substitute grape tomatoes with the cherry tomatoes.
• Add some spinach, chopped, for an additional veggie.
• Use oregano or parsley if you desire extra fresh herbs.