Caprese Orzo Pasta Salad (Printable)
Light Italian-inspired pasta salad with orzo, tomatoes, mozzarella, and fresh basil in balsamic dressing.
# What You'll Need:
→ Pasta
01 - 1 cup orzo pasta (200 g)
→ Vegetables & Cheese
02 - 1 ½ cups cherry tomatoes, halved (225 g)
03 - 1 cup fresh mozzarella balls, halved (125 g)
04 - ½ cup fresh basil leaves, torn (15 g)
→ Dressing
05 - 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
06 - 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
07 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
08 - ½ teaspoon sea salt
09 - ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
→ Optional Garnish
10 - Cracked black pepper to taste
11 - Extra fresh basil leaves
# How To Make It:
01 - Cook orzo according to package instructions in salted boiling water until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop cooking process. Let cool completely.
02 - In a large bowl, combine cooled orzo, cherry tomatoes, mozzarella balls, and torn basil leaves.
03 - In a small bowl or jar, whisk together olive oil, balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper until emulsified.
04 - Pour dressing over salad mixture and toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly.
05 - Adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed. Garnish with extra basil leaves and cracked black pepper. Serve chilled or at room temperature.
# Tips from dashanddishes:
01 -
- The balsamic dressing soaks into the orzo making every bite burst with flavor
- Comebacks together in under 30 minutes but tastes like you spent hours planning it
02 -
- Rinsing the orzo under cold water is non negotiable or you will end up with mushy warm salad
- Let the dressed salad sit for 15 minutes before serving so the flavors can meld together
03 -
- Buy the mozzarella from the specialty cheese section not the pre shredded bags
- Use the highest quality balsamic vinegar you can afford it really shines here