Caprese Orzo Pasta Salad is a delicious fresh tasting pasta salad. Light enough to have as a side dish, or as a light lunch. Even better if you can make this Caprese Orzo salad ahead of time, and let it chill in the fridge for a couple of hours! It gets even better! This is a great summer salad.
Originally published on 7/13/2017
Caprese Orzo Pasta Salad
This pasta salad is not only delicious, but it also looks beautiful on the table. The vibrant red tomatoes, creamy white mozzarella and orzo pasta, and bright green basil create an eye-catching dish that is sure to impress your guests.
What is Caprese?
- Named after the isle of Capri, traditional Italian Caprese Salad, which is a very popular appetizer and side dish, is slices of fresh mozzarella cheese layered with a big fresh basil leaf, a slice of ripe tomato. Then drizzled with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and a light sprinkling of salt.
- The colors of the Caprese salad are reminiscent of the Italian flag, with the red tomatoes, white mozzarella, and green basil creating a visually appealing dish.
- This lovely "salad" has everything that is wonderful about Italian cuisine: sweet, salty, tangy, rich, and fresh!
- This Caprese Orzo Salad is inspired by traditional Caprese Salad. The ingredients are similar, with a couple of exceptions: honey and garlic. Since this salad has the pasta, I thought it needed just a bit more flavor to keep it from being too bland.
What Is Orzo?
Orzo is a pasta shape that looks like fat rice. Orzo can be made into main dishes like casseroles, added to soups, and even a pasta salad, which is what I'm sharing with you today.
Can Meat Be Added?
Sure! Try Prosciutto or Parma Ham: For a savory twist, add thin slices of prosciutto or diced Parma ham to the salad. The saltiness of the cured meat adds a savory complexity to the salad.
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Do I Need White Balsamic Vinegar for this Salad?
- No, not really. I do recommend it if you are serving this dish at a potluck or party. The regular balsamic vinegar tints the pasta brown and may not be the look you want (see post photo above).
- The flavors are a little different, but both are very good.
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We really like this light and flavorful orzo salad recipe. This is a perfect summer salad!
If you make this Orzo Salad let me know! Just leave a comment with a star rating below.
A lovely light pasta salad adapted from the classic Italian favorite, Caprese Salad.
- 8 oz Orzo Pasta, ½ of a 1 lb box
- ¼ cup Olive Oil, extra virgin
- ½ cup White Balsamic Vinegar (or regular if you don't have white)
- 1 clove Garlic, pressed
- 1 teaspoon Honey
- pinch Kosher Salt
- pinch Black Pepper
- 1 8 oz Container of Mozzarella Fresca Pearls* (Perline or Perlini)
- 1 Cup Grape Tomatoes, measure first then cut tomatoes in half
- 8 Fresh Basil Leaves, cut in thin ribbons (chiffonade)
- ¼ small Red Onion, minced (optional)
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Cook the orzo according to package directions (al dente). When cooked, drain and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process. Transfer to a large bowl.
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While pasta is cooking, make the vinaigrette by adding the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, garlic, honey, salt, and pepper to a small bowl or cup and whisk together until well mixed. Taste and adjust seasonings to your liking.
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Add tomatoes, basil, and mozzarella to the pasta, then pour the vinaigrette over and mix well.
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Cover and chill for 1-2 hours, mixing occasionally.
*If you can't find mozzarella pearls, just cut up some fresh mozzarella slices.
Resources to make This Recipe and More
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Francesca
My niece is allergic to honey. Can you recommend an alternative?
Sandy
Just a small amount of sugar.
Linda C
Hi Sandy! I was so excited to have your site pop up when I did a search for Caprese salads. I have a huge crop of cherry tomatoes and basil too. I am going to double tis for a big family party next Saturday. Now to see if I have white balsamic vinegar.
Gail
Awesome recipe, so easy and sooo good.
Cristl
Taste was good but definitely use a white balsamic. It was so pretty until I poured that on it. I also had a lot of liquid. Maybe I didn’t get the pasta dry enough.
Fran
This was good. I used aged white balsamic which is sweet so no need for honey. I also added red onion. I will make this again.
Sandy
That's great! Thank you.
Sue
Try adding some red wine. Tasty!
Vera Jean
Should use white balsamic vinegar the dark made the pasta and cheese dark loved it, will make again