Orzo Primavera Pasta Salad
This vibrant Orzo Primavera Pasta Salad looks and tastes like sunshine to us. A staple from our Quick & Easy cookbook, we’ve tweaked it slightly over the years to make sure it’s as fresh and delicious as it can be. Known as ‘the salad that goes with anything’, plate it up with kebabs, grilled chicken, steak, fish and more!
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NutritionPer Serving
- Calories214
- Carbs41g
- Protein8.1g
- Fat1.2g
- Saturates0.2g
- Sugars3.9g
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For the full list of ingredients and comprehensive instructions, please see the recipe card below. Before you scroll, there’s important stuff in the blurb!
Bursting with colour and flavour, this Orzo Primavera Pasta Salad is a versatile dish to remember for summer. It works brilliantly as a satisfying side, a grab-and-go snack, or wholesome light lunch.
This recipe is known affectionately in our house as ‘the salad that goes with anything!’ Try it alongside kebabs, grilled chicken or fish – it’ll work its magic on your plate. If you’ve never tried orzo before, it’s basically a rice-shaped pasta that soaks up flavours like a dream.
While you could use penne or fusilli pasta for this recipe if you really wanted to, it wouldn’t be the same!
We’ve made sure this one’s packed with a rainbow of fresh vegetables, including juicy tomatoes, crisp onions, green peppers and red peppers. Feel free to make it your own by chopping in your brightest, tastiest veg leftovers.
What diets is this Orzo Primavera Pasta Salad suitable for?
This Orzo Primavera Pasta Salad is suitable for vegetarian, vegan and dairy-free diets.
It can be made gluten-free by swapping the following ingredients for gluten-free versions;
- Orzo
Please make sure to double or triple check all of your ingredients if you’re cooking for people with allergies.
Do you need any special ingredients to make Orzo Primavera Pasta Salad?
You can buy orzo in most supermarkets. If you can’t get it, then you could always use a different, small pasta shape – just remember to adjust the cooking time according to the instructions on the packet.
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You can buy orzo in most supermarkets or on Amazon.
A large pan comes in handy for this recipe and so many others.
How many calories are in this Orzo Primavera Pasta Salad?
There are 214 calories per portion in this Orzo Primavera Pasta Salad, which means it falls into our Everyday Light category.
To cut down the amount of calories even more, you can simply halve the portion size and serve with a healthy accompaniment!
This Orzo Primavera Pasta Salad is perfect if you’re following a calorie-controlled diet, and fits well with any one of the major diet plans such as Weight Watchers.
As a guide, an average man needs around 2,500kcal (10,500kJ) a day to maintain a healthy body weight. For an average woman, that figure is around 2,000kcal (8,400kJ) a day. Obviously, if your goal is to lose weight then you might want to adjust these slightly! You can read more about these recommendations on the NHS website.
Step 1
Place the orzo in a large saucepan and add the turmeric. Cover with salted boiling water. Cook according to the packet instructions; this is usually 8-10 minutes.
Step 2
Meanwhile make the dressing: To a small bowl, add the red wine vinegar, oregano. lemon juice, pickled veg vinegar, and water. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Set aside.
Step 3
Remove the orzo from the heat and drain into a sieve. Run through cold water to cool it down and stop it from overcooking. Drain well.
Step 4
Tip all the ingredients into a large bowl, check the seasoning and add some more salt and pepper if necessary. Mix well and serve sprinkled with some more chopped fresh parsley, if you wish.
What could I serve with this Orzo Primavera Pasta Salad?
This Orzo Primavera Pasta Salad is delicious all on its own, or as part of a slimming-friendly spread with any of these side dishes:
How do you know when Orzo Primavera Pasta Salad is cooked?
You should cook this Orzo Primavera Pasta Salad until the orzo is tender. This will take around 8-10 minutes – check your packet instructions.
Here in the UK, the standard advice is to cook food until it has reached 70°C and maintained that temperature for 2 minutes. This is to keep you and your family safe!
How long can you keep Orzo Primavera Pasta Salad in the fridge?
Once you’ve put it out, ideally you should eat it within 4 hours.
If you allow any leftovers to cool, make sure to refrigerate in a container with a lid and chill. You can keep leftovers of Orzo Primavera Pasta Salad in the fridge for approximately 3 days or so.
Can I freeze Orzo Primavera Pasta Salad?
No, we don’t recommend freezing this recipe.
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Orzo Primavera Pasta Salad
This vibrant Orzo Primavera Pasta Salad looks and tastes like sunshine to us. It's a slimming-friendly staple from our Quick and Easy cookbook!
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Prep Time
10 MINS
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Cook Time
10 MINS
- KCals 214
- Carbs 41G
Instructions
- Place the orzo in a large saucepan and add the turmeric. Cover with salted boiling water. Cook according to the packet instructions; this is usually 8-10 minutes.
- Meanwhile make the dressing: To a small bowl, add the red wine vinegar, oregano. lemon juice, pickled veg vinegar, and water. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Set aside.
- Remove the orzo from the heat and drain into a sieve. Run through cold water to cool it down and stop it from overcooking. Drain well.
- Tip all the ingredients into a large bowl, check the seasoning and add some more salt and pepper if necessary. Mix well and serve sprinkled with some more chopped fresh parsley, if you wish.
Looking for Slimming World Syns or Weight Watchers (WW) Points?
With ever-changing plans and point calculations, we have made the decision to remove WW Points from the website - referring to your individual plan or advice from your consultant is always going to give the most accurate results.
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We agreed with Slimming World to remove their trademarked terms from our website
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32 comments
See what others have to say
KimSunday 6th March 2022
Could you just use white or dark vinegar instead of the pickling juice? I don’t eat pickled goods. Thanks
HollyMonday 7th March 2022
Hi Kim, we would suggest using white vinegar instead of the pickling vinegar, hope that helps!
KylieSunday 20th June 2021
Can u substitute the tomatoes as not a fan of fresh ones x
HollyMonday 28th June 2021
Hey Kylie, you can omit the tomatoes or swap for some extra diced pepper, onion or you could even try some diced cucumber. Hope that helps!
EilidhTuesday 20th April 2021
Hi,
Is the orzo 100g uncooked or once cooked?
Thanks
HollyWednesday 21st April 2021
Hey Eilidh, the weight is for uncooked orzo and it is cooked in step 1, hope that helps!
LizzieFriday 25th January 2019
How long would this keep ie for weekday lunches?
Zoe SmithSunday 9th December 2018
Can this be frozen?
ElizabethFriday 10th August 2018
Anyone know if I can use Kritharaki – Nudeln?
SarahSaturday 30th March 2019
Made this for the first time today for my mum going to eat it tomorrow with some fresh salmon for mothers day! It looks fabulous and smells divine! Cant wait to have it for lunch xx
Emma TSunday 7th April 2019
Whoop! So glad you enjoyed it!
Susan ClarkeSunday 25th March 2018
Is there anything I could use to substitute the orzo for a gluten free version?
KirstieSaturday 6th January 2018
Hiya, can this dish be reheated? So if I took to work, could I pop it in the microwave? Thanks!
MandySunday 17th December 2017
Hi. Is there anything else I could use rather than red wine vinegar?
D thomsonMonday 31st July 2017
Can u tell me what pickled vegetable juice is please
Emma TMonday 11th September 2017
Hi there,
Pickling juice is the liquid that the vegetables are preserved in, the spiced vinegar in the jar of pickles ????
CarolThursday 13th July 2017
Hi, does it keep ok in the fridge to do for lunches for a couple of days? Thanks x
AnonymousMonday 10th July 2017
Hi I love this site I live in Watford Herts please can you tell me where I can get Orzo pasta from?
Janine BraniganFriday 7th July 2017
Made this for the first time tonight. Loved it. Never tasted Orzo before. Very colorful dish. Will definitely be on the weekly menu in this house. Thank you
JeanFriday 7th July 2017
Delicious, versitile and very fresh, will become a staple xx
KateTuesday 11th July 2017
Hi Jean
Glad you like it
CarolyneSunday 7th May 2017
I love the sound of this – really zingy, quick, fresh – a meal on its own for me with a side for my husband. Brilliant
DianeTuesday 2nd May 2017
Love, love, love this. It’s so easy to make and really fresh and tasty. Thanks.
KateWednesday 3rd May 2017
Hi Diane
It’s become one of our favourites too! I think it’s much nicer than any shop bought orzo salad. We often have a tub in the fridge to snack on during the day
Karen GistSunday 16th April 2017
Is it me or can I not see the amounts of all the ingredients you need?
KateSunday 16th April 2017
Hi Karen
Keep scrolling down for the full ingredient list and method
LynneTuesday 11th April 2017
I had been going to ask about the pickling liquid as well! Does it add a lot to the recipe? The only thing I have is pickled onions, would that do? Thanks!
KateSunday 16th April 2017
Hi Lynne
Yes pickled onion liquid should be ok. We use it to bulk out the dressing rather than using olive oil (which is what is normally used in dressings)
DianeMonday 10th April 2017
This looks fab, must try it this week. Anyone know where I’d get pickled vegetable juice?
KateTuesday 11th April 2017
Hi Diane
We just use the pickling liquid from a jar of pickled veg or gherkins. The one we use is Melis Pickled Veg from Asda
HilarySunday 9th April 2017
What is and where do you buy pickled vegetable juice ? Many thanks Hils
KateTuesday 11th April 2017
Hi Hilary
We just use the pickling liquid from a jar of pickled veg or gherkins. The one we prefer to use is Melis Pickled Veg from Asda
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