Caprese Orzo Pasta Salad (Printable)
Tender orzo meets classic Caprese flavors in this vibrant salad with tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, and balsamic dressing.
# What goes in:
→ Pasta
01 - 1 cup orzo pasta
02 - 1 tablespoon salt for boiling water
→ Vegetables & Cheese
03 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
04 - 1 cup fresh mozzarella balls (bocconcini), halved
05 - 1/3 cup fresh basil leaves, torn
→ Dressing
06 - 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
07 - 1½ tablespoons balsamic vinegar
08 - 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup
09 - 1 small garlic clove, finely minced
10 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
11 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
# Directions:
01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Add orzo pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente, approximately 8–10 minutes. Drain thoroughly and rinse under cold running water to halt the cooking process.
02 - In a small bowl, whisk together extra-virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey (or maple syrup), minced garlic, salt, and black pepper until fully emulsified.
03 - Place cooled orzo, halved cherry tomatoes, halved mozzarella balls, and torn basil leaves in a large salad bowl.
04 - Pour the balsamic vinaigrette over the salad. Gently toss until all components are evenly coated with dressing.
05 - Taste and adjust salt and pepper as desired. Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 2 hours to allow flavors to meld.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The orzo soaks up that balsamic dressing like tiny flavor sponges, making every bite better than the last
- You can prep it in the morning and let it hang out in the fridge, which means zero stress when guests arrive
02 -
- Rinse the pasta thoroughly under cold water or it'll keep cooking and turn mushy, which nobody wants in their salad
- This actually tastes better after it sits for 30 minutes, so make it ahead and let the flavors mingle
03 -
- Salt your pasta water aggressively, it should taste like the ocean, because the orzo won't absorb enough flavor otherwise
- Buy the best mozzarella you can find, since there's nowhere to hide mediocre cheese in such a simple dish