Orzo Pasta with Basil & Veggies

Name: Orzo Pasta with Basil & Veggies
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 8 oz orzo pasta (I use whole wheat); 1-1/2 cups cherry tomatoes (sliced); 1 cup frozen green peas (thawed); 1 tablespoon basil (fresh or dry); 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds or pinenuts (optional); 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder; 1/2 teaspoon onion powder; 1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste); 1/2 teaspoon black pepper; 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar (white or dark); 2 teaspoon Dijon mustard; 1 teaspoon maple syrup (optional)

ByTerri Edwards September 14, 2023

Home » Recipes » Pasta Dishes » Orzo Pasta with Basil & Veggies

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This colorful Orzo Pasta Salad is nutritious, filling, and can be made in about 20 minutes. It’s loaded with green peas, tomatoes, basil, and a simple balsamic dijon dressing that is absolutely delicious!

orzo pasta with tomatoes, green peas, and basil in large black bowl with wooden spoon

This easy vegan pasta salad is always a huge hit at my Food for Life classes. Class participants are consistently amazed at how easy this recipe is to make and the burst of tangy flavor created by the dressing made with only balsamic vinegar, dijon mustard, and maple syrup (optional). Other terrific recipe options are this Easy Vegan Pasta Salad that can be ready in about 20-minutes and Macaroni Salad.

overhead photo of orzo pasta with tomatoes, green peas, and basil in white bowl with balsamic vinegar sauce

What is exactly orzo?

Many people have never heard of orzo and often ask if it’s a grain, rice, or pasta. The simple answer is that orzo is pasta that has an oval shape and looks a lot to me like slivered almonds.

It is made with flour and is not naturally gluten-free, though there are some gluten-free options available. Personally, I purchase the whole wheat version because my family is not avoiding gluten.

Orzo is commonly used to toss into healthy soup recipes to add texture and heartiness. It’s also widely used in pasta salads with veggies.

saucepan with cooked orzo pasta in water and a wooden spoon

The recipe card at the bottom of the page has the full list of ingredients with measurements and instructions.

How to cook orzo pasta

The recipe card at the bottom of the page has the full list of ingredients with measurements and instructions.

Orzo pasta is super simple to make and cooks on the stovetop just like rice in minutes.

Begin by heating water in a large saucepan or pot until it boils.
Stir in the pasta and pinch of salt (optional) and cover the pot to bring the water back to a boil.
Remove the lid once it is boiling and stir to prevent sticking.
Cook for approximately 9-minutes stirring occasionally.
Continually check past for an al dente texture. You don’t want to overcook it.
Drain in a colander and rinse under cool water to stop the cooking process.
Now it’s ready to be used in this recipe and others.

white colander with freshly cooked whole wheat orzo pasta

While the orzo is cooking, defrost the frozen green peas by placing them in a strainer or colander and running warm water over them. Set them to the side.

green peas in metal strainer over white bowl

Slice the cherry tomatoes in half and mince fresh basil if using it. Dried basil is also a good choice for this recipe. I sometimes add a combination of both dried and fresh basil.

cutting board with cherry tomatoes slice in half with basil

I am often asked which knives I use personally, and I have to say that it is Victor i nox. They are the same company that makes Swiss Army Knives and the quality is excellent.

Next, you’ll want to whisk up the simple dressing that only takes about a minute.

Oil-free pasta dressing

The easy oil-free 3-2-1 dressing used with this dish requires only three ingredients–balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, maple syrup–to be whisked together in a small bowl.

balsamic vinegar, dijion mustard, and maple syrup in white bowls with whisk

If you prefer, the maple syrup can be left out completely, but I think it really adds the perfect flavor to this pasta salad.

large black bowl with cooked orzo pasta, tomatoes, green peas, and spices

In a large bowl, add the balsamic dressing to the cooked orzo, tomatoes, green peas, spices, and basil. Mix together well and toss in a few pine nuts or sesame seeds and a little salt and pepper. Serve immediately or chill first.

two white bowls with orzo vegan pasta salad

*Originally published March 2016.

Recipe adapted from Physicians Committee, Food for Life: Kickstart Your Health.

If you love light summer salads like this one, be sure to try our vegan pasta primavera too!

Tips for making orzo vegan pasta salad

Dressing- Dark balsamic makes the dish a little darker, so use white balsamic if you prefer it to be lighter in color.
Tomatoes- If you don’t have cherry tomatoes, diced fresh tomatoes or even canned tomatoes will work.
Gluten Free- To make this dish gluten-free, you will need to use gluten-free orzo pasta.
Pasta- Be sure not to overcook the pasta because it will become mushy.
Peas- Though cooked green peas can be used, I highly recommend using the frozen variety for the texture and color.

white bowl filled with vegan orzo pasta salad with veggies

Other plant-based pasta dishes:

For those of you new to the whole food plant-based lifestyle, we’ve created a FREE 7-Day Plant-Based Menu Planner to help you get started!

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my full disclosure here.

If you try this recipe, please let us know how you like it by rating it and leaving a comment. We love to hear from you!

About Terri Edwards

Hi guys! I am the content creator behind EatPlant-Based and a licensed Food for Life instructor with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. I am passionate about sharing healthy recipes and tips to empower others to get healthy. I’m so glad you’re here! Read More…

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