Vegetable Orzo

This vegetable orzo recipe combines whole-grain pasta and roasted vegetables with a unique seasoning blend. Then, toss it in a simple dressing. Served cold or warm, this roasted vegetable orzo salad is perfect as an entree or a side dish.

There's something special about delicate orzo pasta that sets it apart from other types of pasta. So, I decided to cook a vegetable orzo recipe for dinner tonight. I love this roasted vegetable orzo salad because it's easy to make and happens in 20 minutes. 

Jump to:

• What is Vegetable Orzo?
• Vegetable Orzo Ingredients 
• Vegetable Orzo Ingredient Substitutions
• How to Roast Vegetables Without Oil 
• How to Make Roasted Vegetable Orzo Salad
• How to Cook the Perfect Orzo Every Time 
• Orzo Salad Dressing Ingredients
• Serving Suggestions
• Recipe FAQs
• Tips
• More Delicious Vegan Pasta Recipes
• 📖 Recipe
• 💬 Reviews

What is Vegetable Orzo?

Orzo, or risoni, resembles a short-cut pasta shaped like a giant rice grain. Although traditionally made from white flour, orzo comes in whole grain variety. Although it resembles rice, this delicate pasta is light and airy.

Then, add roasted vegetables, seasoning, and a light dressing, and you have the perfect roasted vegetable orzo salad served cold or hot.

If you love orzo as much as I do, try the vegan orzo recipes: Greek Orzo Salad or Lemony Orzo Salad!

Vegetable Orzo Ingredients 

• Whole-Grain Orzo: Whole-grain orzo, is small pasta, named for its “barley” shape, yet it can be mistaken for large grains of rice. Orzo is known for its role in broth-based soups and pasta salads.
• Brussels Sprouts: Brussels sprouts are high in fiber, which can promote regularity, support digestive health, and reduce the risk of heart disease and diabetes.
• Tri-colored Tomatoes: Bite-sized, beautiful, and early bearing, these 3 different colored cherries are the sweetest of all tomatoes and yield abundant harvests in all climates. Our mixed seed packet offers an easy way to have tall plants of luscious orange Sun-gold, bright yellow Sweet Gold, and rich red Super-sweet 100 in your garden.
• Broccoli:Broccoli is a cruciferous vegetable rich in antioxidants and other beneficial plant compounds. It may also offer several benefits, especially for eye health, heart health, and disease prevention.
• Asparagus: Asparagus contains potassium, an essential nutrient for keeping your heart, bones, kidneys, and nerves functioning and healthy. 
• Onion: They're rich in chemicals that can help protect your heart, lower your risk of some cancers, and make it easier for your body to make insulin. Onions are also one of the greatest vegetable sources of quercetin, a plant compound with many health benefits.
• Turmeric: Turmeric is best when paired with other spices and herbs. Think strong, warm spices with complementary flavor profiles, like cinnamon, black pepper, and ginger
• Paprika: This vibrant red spice varies in flavor, heat levels, and color depending on the type of peppers used to make the paprika. ... Some paprikas are hot and spicy, with predominant notes of fiery hot peppers. Others are sweet, with no heat and a mild flavor.
• Italian Seasoning Blend: The main herbs commonly used are oregano, basil, thyme, and rosemary 
• Garlic Powder: Garlic powder works in any recipe for dried or fresh garlic. The difference is intensity.

Even though I can't explain why this spice combination tastes so fabulous, I suggest making a giant batch and storing it in an air-tight container in the pantry for up to 6 months for other recipes.

Vegetable Orzo Ingredient Substitutions

• The best orzo pasta replacements are fregola pasta, stellate pasta, macaroni pasta, ditalini pasta, and alphabet pasta. They're all tiny and have a similar texture to orzo when cooked.
• Choose any vegetables you prefer.
• Try different seasoning blends to make a unique roasted vegetable orzo salad.

How to Roast Vegetables Without Oil 

Roasting without oil, although easy, sometimes confuses people. Interestingly, roasting without oil brings the vegetables' authentic flavor to the surface without an oily taste. 

For some reason, some people misconstrue oil with flavor when the seasonings and natural vegetable tastes make roasted vegetables wonderful. 

Cooking Suggestions

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
• Cut the vegetables into uniform sizes; separate the broccoli and the Brussel sprouts from the rest of the vegetables.
• As a result, the vegetables cook evenly.
• Also, rinsing the vegetables before roasting them allows the seasoning to stick to them. 
• Place the tomatoes, onion, and asparagus mixed on a baking sheet lined with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper
• Another helpful hint to roasting vegetables is to toss the vegetables together so the flavor of the onions and tomatoes enhances the other vegetables on the roasting pan. 
• Cook the baking sheet with the asparagus, tomatoes, and onions for 15 minutes.

• Similarly, separating the cruciferous vegetables, which take a little longer to rost, allows for perfectly roasted vegetables. 
• Do the same with the broccoli and Brussel Sprouts.
• Combine all the spices in a bowl and sprinkle generously over the two pans with the vegetables.
• Roast the broccoli and Brussels sprouts for 20 minutes.

How to Make Roasted Vegetable Orzo Salad

• Once roasted, allow the vegetables to cool completely while preparing the orzo.  

How to Cook the Perfect Orzo Every Time 

• Bring 6 cups of water and 1 Tablespoon salt (yes, 1 Tablespoon; don't worry, you rinse it off) to a boil.
• Add 1 ½ cups dry orzo pasta and stir.
• Once boiling again, reduce heat to low and simmer for 7 minutes.
• Then, transfer the pasta to a colander and rinse with cold water, moving the pasta around to ensure all the pasta is cooled to room temperature.
• Shake any excess water out and place cooled pasta into a large bowl.

Orzo Salad Dressing Ingredients

It's time to combine the orzo and roasted vegetables and dress the orzo salad. Because the seasoning blend is so fabulous, the oil-free dressing consists of 3 simple ingredients:

• Champagne Vinegar: In comparison to other popular vinegar, such as white wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar, champagne vinegar tastes much milder and is an ideal choice when you want to add the tang of vinegar without overpowering the other flavors in the dish.
• Dijon Mustard: Dijon mustard is made with red wine vinegar, while yellow mustard contains corn, barley, rye, and wheat grains. Dijon mustard is a grainy yellow dressing, while yellow mustard is a smooth, creamy dressing. Dijon mustard is used as a condiment, while yellow mustard can also be served hot or cold.
• Lemon Juice: I prefer using fresh lemon juice for the best flavor.

Then, toss it all together for an incredible vegetable orzo salad! 

Serving Suggestions

I chose to serve the vegetable orzo cold for this particular recipe, but if you prefer it warm, do not rinse the pasta in cold water, add the vegetables warm, dress, and serve immediately. 

Recipe FAQs

Tips

• To avoid mushy orzo, boil it for about 8-10 minutes or until it has a firm, chewy texture, stirring occasionally to prevent it from sticking together. Drain orzo in a colander. For the best flavor and texture, serve the orzo immediately after cooking.
• One cup of raw orzo (about 6 oz) will give you about 2 cups cooked. Orzo can be cooked like rice if you want a slightly creamier result. Boil ½ cup of water for each cup of orzo.
• Orzo doesn't need to be rinsed before cooking, just like any other pasta shape.
• For a cold roasted vegetable orzo salad, rice the pasta in cold water to chill immediately.
• I always use a silicone baking mat or parchment paper to avoid a mess when roasting vegetables. 
• Even though I can't explain why this spice combination tastes so fabulous, I suggest making a giant batch and storing it in an air-tight container in the pantry for up to 6 months for other recipes.

For a quick weeknight dinner, try this vegetable orzo recipe. You will love this easy orzo recipe.

More Delicious Vegan Pasta Recipes

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