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    Home » Easy Recipes » Salads and Dressings

    Caprese Orzo salad

    Published: Aug 8, 2023 by Susan Moncrieff · This post may contain affiliate links · 3 Comments

    Jump to Recipe

    This delicious orzo salad looks as good as it tastes. With the fresh cherry tomatoes and basil leaves, you anticipate the fresh flavors when you see it. Of course, the mozzarella pearls are always enjoyed in any salad.

    caprese orzo salad with fresh tomatos, basil, small mozzarella and orzo all in a glass bowl.

    If you aren't familiar with orzo, it's a pasta that is shaped like rice.  With just a little bit of preplanning, this is an easy and quick pasta salad.  The most time consuming part of this recipe is letting the orzo cool.

    If you like fresh-flavored recipes, you will love this Greek seven-layer dip with fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, and feta.

    Table of contents

    • What is Orzo?
    • Why I love this salad
    • Ingredients
    • Ingredients - Salad
    • Ingredients - Balsamic Dressing
    • Substitutions
    • FAQs
    • Other delicious salads

    What is Orzo?

    Orzo is a small pasta. Many years ago, when I first bought it for a recipe, I thought it was rice! Take a look at the plate I put together to show you the difference between uncooked, cooked orzo and rice. Then you'll see why.

    A plate showing samples to show the difference between uncooked orzo, cooked orzo and rice.

    Why I love this salad

    It is bright-tasting and fresh looking and smelling. This is a pasta salad with fresh cherry tomatoes with fresh basil loaded with flavor from a balsamic vinaigrette. Every time I serve it, it just disappears!

    I like serving this in mason jars, especially if I've made it ahead. If you do make it ahead, put just a little dressing on it, and add some more just prior to serving. The orzo tends to absorb the vinaigrette (and that, for the most part, is good).

    Ingredients

    I make this salad all summer when my garden is overflowing with fresh basil and small tomatoes. It is one of my favorites and this is a great salad to take to a family or friend gathering.

    Ingredients for orzo pasta salad with orzo, cherry tomatos, fresh basil, fresh mozzarella pearls and dressing ingredients.

    Ingredients - Salad

    The salad is so fresh and delicious, just waiting for the dressing.

    prepped caprese orzo salad with cherry tomatos, fresh basil, pearl mozzarella and orzo.

    1 cup dry orzo pasta
    8oz drained mozzarella pearls (small balls of fresh mozzarella cheese)
    1 Pint of cherry tomatoes
    Fresh basil leaves, cut in chiffonade (roll the leaves then slice thinly)

    Ingredients - Balsamic Dressing

    ingredients to make dressing includes balsamic vinegar, olive oil, pepper, salt and fresh garlic.

    ½ cup olive oil
    ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
    ½ teaspoon salt
    ¼ teaspoon pepper
    1 large clove finely minced garlic

    Substitutions

    This is a very forgiving recipe. If you have a garden with lots of large tomatos, cut the tomatos to size and use them. Can't find mozzarella pearls? Buy larger fresh mozzarella and cut to a smaller size. Don't have orzo pasta? Use a different small sized pasta. It's easy to substitute and keep the delicious look and flavor of this salad.

    Step 1
    Cook orzo pasta according to package directions. Make sure you do not overcook it! Drain, stir in about 1 to 2 tablespoons olive oil so the orzo doesn’t stick together. As it’s cooling, you need to stir it a few times so the pasta doesn't stick. I often make the orzo in the morning or the evening before.

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    Step 2
    Mix all balsamic dressing ingredients together in a mason jar. Notice that the mason jar has measurement markings on it. No need to dirty any measuring cups! Shake well before serving.

    squeezing fresh garlic into a jar for the fresh balsamic dressing.

    Step 3
    Mix cherry tomato halves, mozzarella pearls and basil into orzo. Add about ¾ of the dressing, reserving the balance to add just prior to serving. The pasta does absorb the dressing so it’s nice to drizzle some on just prior to serving.

    pouring dressing over caprese orzo salad.

    This Caprese pasta salad is a nice alternative to a traditional lettuce-type salad. The ingredients are simple and flavorful due to the easy but delicious dressing.

    FAQs

    Can this be (is this) made with rice?

    No. Orzo is a small pasta shaped like rice. It's great in this pasta salad!

    What is caprese?

    A traditional caprese salad is made with thick tomato slices, fresh mozzarella slices and fresh basil with a drizzle of balsamic vinegar. This recipe has all those items with a slightly different twist as a pasta salad.

    Other delicious salads

    • pasta salad with fresh cherry tomatoes, mozzarella pearls and fresh basil.
      Caprese Pasta Salad
    • smaller serving of cowboy caviar in a small white bowl.
      Cowboy Caviar
    • Creamy dill pickle pasta salad
      Dill Pickle Pasta Salad
    • Cucumber salad with dill in a glass bowl
      Cucumber Salad with Dill

    Please come back and leave a 5 star rating!

    caprese orzo salad with fresh tomatos, basil, small mozzarella and orzo all in a glass bowl.

    Caprese Orzo salad

    This is a delicious pasta salad with fresh cherry tomatoes, fresh basil, mozzarella pearls and orzo pasta.  The easy balsamic vinaigrette creates a delicious-looking and tasting salad!
    5 from 4 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Salad
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 389cal
    Author: Susan Moncrieff

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup orzo cooked per package directions and cooled
    • 8 oz mozzarella pearls small balls of fresh mozzarella
    • 1 Pint cherry tomatoes
    • ¼ cup Fresh basil cut in chiffonade (roll the leaves then slice thinly)

    Ingredients, Balsamic Dressing

    • ½ cup olive oil
    • ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon pepper
    • 1 large clove finely minced garlic

    Instructions

    • Cook orzo pasta according to directions. Make sure you do not overcook it! Drain, stir in about 1 to 2 tablespoons olive oil so the orzo doesn’t stick together. As it’s cooling, you will have to stir it a few times.
    • In a seperate mason jar, mix all balsamic dressing ingredients together. Notice that the mason jar has the measurement markings on it. No need to dirty any measuring cups! Shake well prior to serving.
    • Mix tomato halves, mozzarella pearls and basil into orzo. Add about ¾ of the dressing, reserving the balance to add just prior to serving. The pasta does absorb the dressing so it’s nice to drizzle some on just prior to serving.

    Notes

    Prior to assembling, ensure orzo has been cooked according to package directions and cooled. 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1g | Calories: 389cal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 16g | Cholesterol: 30mg | Sodium: 444mg | Potassium: 273mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 694IU | Vitamin C: 18mg | Calcium: 210mg | Iron: 1mg

    Please pin to your Pinterest account.

    caprese orzo salad with small tomatos, fresh basil, mozzarella pearls and cooked orzo pasta.

    Originally published Feb. 24, 2017.  

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    1. DC

      April 17, 2021 at 10:16 pm

      I was looking for orzo salad in a jar for a party dish and voila! Thanks so much. Can't wait to use it! What size jars do you typically use?

      Reply
    2. Patti @ Garden Matter

      February 25, 2017 at 6:17 am

      Yummy. I make something very similar as a side dish but it's hot. I never thought of making it as a salad in a mason jar. Great idea!

      Reply
      • momcrieff

        February 25, 2017 at 8:48 am

        The best part, this is great for lunch the next day! Thanks for stopping by and for your comments.

        Reply

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    I'm Susan Moncrieff! I love sharing easy recipes, especially those that take less than 30 minutes and have less than 5 ingredients. I'm passionate about gardening and creating flower planters. My home is 100 years old and sometimes you will see it in my posts! It was a true fixer upper and I love it!

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