Citrus Orzo Salad Recipe
I don’t know bout you but I love orzo and I love citrus flavors, specifically lemon. Give me anything lemon and I’m usually in love. My local grocery store has a citrus orzo salad, but we all know that prepared food at stores can be pretty pricey. They also tend to drench the food with sauces and oils. I decided to try to recreate the orzo salad for myself, and I switched it up a bit!
These ingredients are pretty easy to find at any local grocery store. Olive oil could be substituted for the avocado oil, as well as orange for them lemon if you prefer he flavor oranges. Actually, if you’ve got pasta you’re trying to use, any type of pasta could be substituted as well, although I’ve really been loving orzo lately.
I soak the lemon zest in the oil to help infuse the flavors of the lemon into the oil.
This is a great dish for a summer get together, a fall bbq, or even a spring picnic. Heck, I’d even make this in the winter when I’m feeling the winter blues. The mint and the basil together really create a refreshing flavor combination that mix well with the lemon. The dried cranberries add a subtle hint of sweetness without overpowering. (Raisins could replace the dried cranberries)
Citrus Orzo Salad
A light and citrusy pasta salad
Ingredients
- 1 cup Dry Orzo Pasta
- 2 tbsp Avocado Oil
- 1/4 cup Dried Cranberries
- Zest one Lemon
- Juice 1/2 Lemon
- 8-10 Fresh Mint Leaves
- 8-10 Fresh Basil Leaves
- Salt
- Pepper
Instructions
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Combine oil and lemon zest into a bowl. Cook orzo according to package directions and let cool. Combine orzo, oil and zest, lemon juice, and dried cranberries in large bowl and mix. Add salt and pepper to taste. Chop fresh mint and basil and sprinkle on top of orzo. Add more lemon juice, mint, basil, salt, or pepper to taste. Store in the refrigerator and enjoy cold.
That’s it! It’s super easy and pretty quick to make. It stores well in the fridge for multiple days as well, so you don’t have to eat the leftovers before it goes bad, although you might not have as many leftovers as you’d like. It’s light and delicious pasta salad that will be enjoyed by all.