Lemon Orzo Pasta Salad (members only)

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This Lemon Orzo Pasta Salad has light, fresh flavors, plus plenty of greens. The perfect vegan pasta salad for the warmer months!

This Lemon Orzo Pasta Salad is perfect for summer! It is light enough to have as a side dish, but hearty enough to eat as a main. The chickpeas add plant protein and the spinach adds fresh greens. The lemon dressing is bright and fresh. This is also perfect for a party – make it ahead of time and keep it in the fridge.

here’s what you need

ingredients

• orzo
• chickpeas
• spinach
• red onion
• parsley
• oil
• dijon mustard
• lemon zest
• lemon juice
• garlic
• oregano
• salt & pepper

equipment

Grab a pot to cook the orzo and a big salad bowl!

steps

step 1: cook the orzo & prep the dressing

I love this pasta salad recipe because it is incredibly simple and the ingredients are easy to find.

First thing you want to do is cook your orzo. Add the orzo to a pot of boiling water and cook according to the package instructions. Drain & rinse with cold water.

While that’s cooking, we can make the dressing. Add the oil, lemon zest, lemon juice, garlic, dijon and dry seasonings to a jar, cover and shake until combined – you can also do this in a bowl, but I love these jars!

step 2: assemble & serve

Now that the heavy lifting is done, we can assemble.

Add the cooked orzo to a large bowl with the rest of the salad ingredients. Pour over the dressing and toss to combine.

You can serve this right away or let it chill in the fridge! You are going to love this pasta salad!

tips & tricks

You can definitely add onto this salad or make swaps. Some ideas are: switching the spinach for arugula or adding vegan feta.

If you are making this a few hours ahead of time, I would assemble the salad and then add the dressing right before serving.