Caprese Orzo Salad
This Caprese Orzo Salad is a bright, zesty pasta salad with mozzarella balls, grape tomatoes, fresh basil, and a refreshing vinaigrette dressing.
I serve this pasta salad with mozzarella balls mixed in for extra flavor.
CAPRESE SALAD WITH ORZO RECIPE
I love to always keep big bowls of pasta mozzarella basil tomato salad in my fridge, even during the winter months.
A salad like this one is easy to scoop into a bowl when you need a quick lunch or snack and if you’re especially hungry, you could add a side of grilled chicken or steak – how easy!
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Orzo Salad with Mozzarella screams SUMMER, but nobody at my house would bat an eye if I made this salad in the dead of winter – it’s THAT good.
My sons even ask “Mom, when will we have that Pasta Mozzarella Basil Tomato Salad again?” They can never remember the official name, but they know the ingredients!
What to Love
- I love how beautiful and colorful this salad is – you want to dig right in.
- This salad keeps well in the fridge for 2-3 days.
- The ingredients for this salad are readily available.
INGREDIENTS
- Red wine vinegar – you can substitute champagne vinegar or white wine vinegar
- Olive oil – may substitute Avocado oil or vegetable oil
- Fresh garlic cloves – may substitute granulated garlic…but only if you have to
- Honey – may substitute Agave nectar, if preferred
- Chicken base paste – such as Better Than Bouillon brand – I keep this stuff on hand at all times for making salad dressings, broth, and sauces
- Shallot – may substitute a small amount of minced red onion, if needed
- Orzo pasta – any variety or color works fine
- Fresh mozzarella pearls – these are small mozzarella cheese balls
- Grape tomatoes – may substitute cherry tomatoes
- Fresh basil leaves – fresh basil is a key ingredient for this salad
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
RECIPE TIPS
This salad is delicious when made with fresh basil, but if it isn’t an available option, you can substitute 1 tsp. dried basil leaves in place of the fresh basil.
If you can’t find mozzarella pearls, you can cut a block of fresh mozzarella into chunks.
Caprese salad is best served at room temperature so the flavors can speak.
You can substitute any small pasta if you can’t find orzo pasta for making this salad.
Make this salad a day before you want to serve it – the flavors get better and better as they mingle.
HOW TO MAKE ORZO CAPRESE SALAD
In a dressing cruet or jar with a tight-fitting lid, prepare the dressing by combining the vinegar, olive oil, garlic, honey, chicken base paste, and sliced shallots; reserve.
Place the cooked and cooled orzo, mozzarella pearls, grape tomatoes, and fresh basil in a large salad bowl. Add the prepared dressing, gently tossing all the ingredients to coat; season to taste with salt and pepper.
Serve at once or refrigerate and serve at a later time. Salad is best served at room temperature.
WHAT IS ORZO?
Orzo is a small, oval-shaped pasta. It resembles rice, it is often known as ‘risoni’. Orzo is versatile and a quick-cooking pasta that becomes nicely creamy as it cooks and absorbs liquid.
IS ORZO PASTA OR RICE?
Orzo is shaped like rice, but larger in size than a grain of rice. Orzo is often mistaken for rice, but it holds no grudges over that fact.
SERVINGS SUGGESTIONS FOR ORZO PASTA –
Turn this orzo pasta salad into a meal by topping it with rotisserie chicken, sauteed shrimp, or grilled steak. Add a glass of white wine and dinner is done!
MORE FAVORITE ORZO RECIPES
- Italian Pesto Orzo – This recipe will show you how quick and easy it is to make creamy and comforting Italian Pesto Orzo pasta with chicken and green beans.
- ORZO PASTA SALAD WITH GRILLED STEAK – This orzo salad has a tangy vinaigrette, lots of veggies, feta cheese, and last but not least, a nice helping of sliced, grilled steak.
- CHEESY ENCHILADA ORZO SKILLET – Everybody loves an easy orzo 30-minute meal that features the familiar, festive flavors of Mexican enchiladas, right? Here’s a speedy skillet meal that involves just one-pan and only two steps.
- Shrimp Scampi Orzo – This creamy and delicious Shrimp Scampi with Orzo recipe has perfectly cooked shrimp, toasted orzo pasta, lots of garlic and lemon, and tender baby peas.
- CREAMY ORZO PASTA WITH ROSEMARY BROWNED BUTTER – Rosemary and browned butter pair so well in this rich side dish, perfectly complimenting the tangy flavors of the creamy Asiago cheese and paprika.
Caprese Orzo Salad
Ingredients
Dressing
- 1/3 cup red wine vinegar
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 1 clove garlic minced or crushed
- 1 Tbs. honey
- 1 tsp. chicken base paste, such as Better Than Bouillon
- 1 medium shallot sliced very thinly
Salad
- 8 oz orzo pasta cooked according to package directions until al dente
- 8 oz. fresh mozzarella pearls drained
- 1/2 pint grape tomatoes sliced in half lengthwise
- 16 fresh basil leaves cut into thin strips (chiffonade)
- kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
Prepare the Dressing
- In a dressing cruet or jar with a tight-fitting lid, prepare the dressing by combining the vinegar, olive oil, garlic, honey, chicken base paste, and sliced shallots; reserve.
Assemble the Salad
- In a large salad bowl, place the cooked and cooled orzo, mozzarella pearls, grape tomatoes, and fresh basil. Add the prepared dressing, gently tossing all the ingredients to coat; season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Serve at once or refrigerate and serve at a later time. Salad is best served at room temperature.