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–+ servings
pesto orzo salad on a white plate next to red apples and a cream striped cloth.
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5 from 2 votes

Pesto Orzo Salad

This pesto orzo salad is full of flavor, packed with healthy ingredients and perfect as a side salad for summer BBQs, picnics and holiday recipes.
Prep Time7 minutes
Cook Time12 minutes
Total Time19 minutes
Course: BBQ food, Lunch, Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine: American, British
Diet: Vegan, Vegetarian
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 296kcal
Author: Claire

Ingredients

  • 8 oz orzo pasta
  • 2-3 tablespoon pesto
  • ½ shallot finely diced
  • 4 radishes sliced
  • ⅓ English cucumber sliced
  • 1 small apple cored, diced
  • handful arugula

To garnish

  • basil leaves

Suggested pesto recipe

Instructions

  • Cook the orzo pasta according to packet instructions, adding a pinch of water to the pan. Drain in a fine mesh sieve and rinse with cold water.
  • If you are making your own pesto, you can do so while the pasta is cooking. Combine the ingredients in a blender (or use a pestle and mortar), and blend to a thick pesto. Adjust with more olive oil or apple cider vinegar to taste.
  • Dice the fruit and vegetables into small pieces.
  • Combine orzo pasta, sliced fruit and vegetables and pesto in a bowl. Stir to combine so all the pasta is coated in the pesto. Garnish with fresh basil leaves and season with salt and black pepper to taste.

Notes

  • Use a fork to separate the orzo pasta if required. A touch of olive oil also helps separate the 'grains'.
  • Any pesto can be used, with the suggested recipe being suitable for a vegan and low histamine diet (if pine nuts are tolerated - swap for pumpkin seeds if not).
  • Dice the fruit and vegetables into fairly small pieces to go along with the orzo.
  • Adjust the amount of pesto used to taste preference.
  • Swap orzo for other small pasta if you prefer, such as macaroni.
  • If citrus works for you, add a squeeze of lemon juice.
  • Please note that nutritional information is an estimate, and auto-generated.
 
Swiss Interest Group Histamine Intolerance
All ingredients score 0 on the SIGHI list, with the exception of:
  • orzo (wheat), which scores 1 and has a ? as a liberator.
  • pine nuts, shallot and arugula aren't rated.
  • garlic and apple cider vinegar, which score 1.

Nutrition

Calories: 296kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 0.4mg | Sodium: 51mg | Potassium: 197mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 345IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 31mg | Iron: 1mg