Best 9 Orzo Ham Salad Recipes

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Discover a delightful medley of flavors and textures with our enticing orzo ham salad recipes. Embark on a culinary journey with our classic orzo ham salad, which combines tender orzo pasta, succulent ham, crisp vegetables, and a zesty dressing, resulting in a refreshing and satisfying meal. For a more vibrant option, try our Mediterranean orzo ham salad, bursting with sun-ripened tomatoes, flavorful olives, and aromatic herbs, offering a taste of the Mediterranean coast. If you seek a lighter version, our Greek orzo ham salad is the perfect choice, featuring a tangy dressing made with Greek yogurt, lemon juice, and fresh dill, creating a refreshing and guilt-free dish. Each recipe offers a unique twist on this classic salad, ensuring an unforgettable dining experience.

Here are our top 9 tried and tested recipes!

MEDITERRANEAN ORZO SALAD



Mediterranean Orzo Salad image

You'll love this easy orzo salad loaded with chopped veggies, fresh herbs and other Mediterranean favorites. Tossed in a bold lemony dressing. For the best flavor, dress the Mediterranean orzo salad while the orzo is still a little warm. Pasta that hasn't cooled completely will drink up the dressing really well. And allow the salad to sit for at least a few minutes (or up to an hour in the fridge) for the flavors to meld before serving.

Provided by Suzy Karadsheh

Categories     Salad

Number Of Ingredients 13

1 ½ cup dry orzo pasta
1 pint grape or cherry tomatoes, (halved)
2 green onions, (trimmed and chopped (both white and green parts))
½ green bell pepper, (seeds removed, chopped)
1 cup packed chopped fresh parsley, (about 1 ½ ounces)
½ cup packed chopped fresh dill, (about 0.5 ounces)
¼ cup sliced pitted kalamata olives, (about 1 ounce)
2 teaspoons capers
Feta cheese, (to your liking)
1 lemon, (zested and juiced)
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
1 garlic clove, (minced)
1 teaspoon oregano

Steps:

  • Cook the orzo pasta according package instructions (mine took about 8 minutes). Drain and cool briefly.
  • In a large mixing bowl, combine the grape tomatoes, green onions, bell peppers, parsley, dill, olives and capers (hold the feta for now). Add the orzo pasta.
  • Make the dressing. In a small bowl, combine the lemon juice, lemon zest, extra virgin olive oil, garlic, oregano and a good pinch of kosher salt and black pepper. Whisk to combine.
  • Pour the dressing over the salad and toss until well combined and the orzo pasta is well coated with the dressing.
  • Top with pieces of creamy feta cheese. Cover and refrigerate for a bit before serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 111.1 kcal, Carbohydrate 6.9 g, Protein 1.7 g, SaturatedFat 1.4 g, Cholesterol 0.4 mg, Sodium 39.4 mg, Fiber 2.3 g, ServingSize 1 serving

ORZO SALAD



Orzo Salad image

This orzo salad recipe is a fresh, delicious side dish or vegetarian lunch! If you make it ahead of time, save the herbs to add at the last minute. I also recommend tossing the salad with a drizzle of olive oil before serving.

Provided by Jeanine Donofrio

Categories     Main dish or side dish     Salad

Number Of Ingredients 14

1½ cups dry orzo pasta
1 recipe Greek Salad Dressing
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
½ teaspoon oregano
¼ teaspoon sea salt
2 Persian cucumbers (halved vertically, and sliced ¼-inch thick)
2 cups halved cherry tomatoes
1 cup cooked chickpeas (drained, and rinsed)
4 ounces feta cheese (cut into ¼-inch cubes)
⅓ cup thinly sliced red onion
½ cup pitted Kalamata olives
1 cup fresh basil and/or mint leaves
Freshly ground black pepper

Steps:

  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Prepare the pasta according to the package directions, or until slightly past al dente. Drain the orzo and toss it with a little olive oil, so that it doesn't stick together. Spread onto a baking sheet to cool.
  • Prepare the Greek Salad Dressing and add in the red wine vinegar, lemon juice, oregano, and sea salt.
  • In a large bowl, toss together the cooked orzo, cucumbers, tomatoes, chickpeas, feta, red onion, and olives. Drizzle the dressing over the salad, add half the herbs, season with freshly ground black pepper, and toss to coat. Garnish with the remaining herbs and serve.

ORZO SALAD



Orzo Salad image

Provided by Giada De Laurentiis

Categories     side-dish

Time 40m

Yield 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 15

4 cups chicken broth
1 1/2 cups orzo
1 (15-ounce) can garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
1 1/2 cups red and yellow teardrop tomatoes or grape tomatoes, halved
3/4 cup finely chopped red onion
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
1/4 cup chopped fresh mint leaves
About 3/4 cup Red Wine Vinaigrette, recipe follows
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup red wine vinegar
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoons honey
2 teaspoons salt
3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Steps:

  • Pour the broth into a heavy large saucepan. Cover the pan and bring the broth to a boil over high heat. Stir in the orzo. Cover partially and cook until the orzo is tender but still firm to the bite, stirring frequently, about 7 minutes. Drain the orzo through a strainer. Transfer the orzo to a large wide bowl and toss until the orzo cools slightly. Set aside to cool completely.
  • Toss the orzo with the beans, tomatoes, onion, basil, mint, and enough vinaigrette to coat. Season the salad, to taste, with salt and pepper, and serve at room temperature.
  • Mix the vinegar, lemon juice, honey, salt, and pepper in a blender. With the machine running, gradually blend in the oil. Season the vinaigrette, to taste, with more salt and pepper, if desired.
  • Yield: 1 3/4 cups

SUMMER ORZO SALAD



Summer Orzo Salad image

Provided by Geoffrey Zakarian

Categories     side-dish

Time 45m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 14

1 bunch scallions
1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 cup uncooked orzo pasta
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
2/3 cup Kalamata or cured black olives, pitted and chopped
1 cup diced cucumber
1 cup halved cherry or grape tomatoes
1/4 cup fresh chives, finely chopped
1/4 cup fresh dill, chopped
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
1/4 red onion, finely diced
6 ounces goat cheese, crumbled

Steps:

  • Preheat a grill to high heat.
  • Toss the scallions in a bowl with 2 tablespoons olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Grill the scallions until the bulbs are tender and the greens are well-charred, about 8 minutes. Set aside to cool. (Alternately, you can char the scallions in a cast-iron pan on the stove.) Chop the white and light green parts finely, then discard the remaining ends of the scallions.
  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil for the orzo. Drop in the orzo and begin to cook. Meanwhile, add the chopped scallions to a medium bowl. Add the vinegar, Dijon mustard, remaining 1/3 cup olive oil and half of the olives and whisk until combined. Season with salt and pepper.
  • When the pasta is finished cooking, drain and rinse to cool. Immediately toss in some of the vinaigrette, along with the cucumber, tomatoes, herbs, red onion and remaining olives. Mix well. Add more dressing to taste. Top with the goat cheese and serve.

MEDITERRANEAN ORZO SALAD



Mediterranean Orzo Salad image

Provided by Ree Drummond : Food Network

Categories     main-dish

Time 1h35m

Yield 12 servings

Number Of Ingredients 13

1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 lemon, juiced
1 clove garlic, minced
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
12 ounces orzo pasta
One 15-ounce can chickpeas, drained.
1 1/2 cups red grape or cherry tomatoes
1 1/2 cups yellow grape or cherry tomatoes
1 1/2 cups kalamata olives, halved
1 1/2 cups crumbled feta cheese, plus more for topping
3 tablespoons minced fresh parsley, plus more for topping
1 red onion, diced
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Steps:

  • For the dressing: In a jar or bowl, mix together the olive oil, lemon juice, garlic and some salt and pepper until totally combined.
  • For the salad: Bring a pot of water to a boil and cook the orzo according to the package directions. Drain and let cool.
  • Place the orzo, chickpeas, red and yellow tomatoes, olives, feta, parsley and onions in a large mixing bowl and pour the dressing over the top. Stir to combine and taste; add salt and pepper if needed. Refrigerate at least 1 hour before serving.
  • Top with more feta and parsley and serve as a main dish salad or with grilled chicken, fish or burgers!

CREAMY ORZO



Creamy Orzo image

Provided by Giada De Laurentiis

Categories     side-dish

Time 25m

Yield 6 to 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 9

3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 pound orzo (rice-shaped pasta)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large shallot, finely chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes, juices drained
1 1/4 cups whipping cream
1 cup frozen peas, thawed

Steps:

  • Bring a heavy large saucepan of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the orzo and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring often, about 8 minutes. Drain, reserving 1 cup of the cooking liquid.
  • Meanwhile, heat the oil in a heavy large frying pan over medium heat. Add the shallot and garlic, and saute until tender, about 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes and cook until they are tender, about 8 minutes. Stir in the cream and peas. Add the orzo and toss to coat. Remove the skillet from the heat. Add the Parmesan to the pasta mixture and toss to coat. Stir the pasta mixture until the sauce coats the pasta thickly, adding enough reserved cooking liquid to maintain a creamy consistency. Season the orzo with salt and pepper, and serve.

CLASSIC MACARONI SALAD



Classic Macaroni Salad image

This classic macaroni salad recipe is a refreshingly light take on an all-time favorite. It's perfect for a fast weeknight dinner or festive weekend barbecue. -Dorothy Bayes, Sardis, Ohio

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Lunch     Side Dishes

Time 30m

Yield 8 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 12

2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
1 cup fat-free mayonnaise
2 tablespoons sweet pickle relish
2 teaspoons sugar
3/4 teaspoon ground mustard
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/3 cup chopped carrot
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 hard-boiled large egg, chopped
Dash paprika

Steps:

  • Cook macaroni according to package directions; drain and rinse with cold water. Cool completely. , For dressing, in a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise, pickle relish, sugar substitute, mustard, salt and pepper. In a large bowl, combine the macaroni, celery, carrot and onion. Add dressing and toss gently to coat. , Refrigerate until serving. Garnish with egg and paprika.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 115 calories, Fat 2g fat (0 saturated fat), Cholesterol 27mg cholesterol, Sodium 362mg sodium, Carbohydrate 21g carbohydrate (6g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 4g protein. Diabetic Exchanges

MEDITERRANEAN ORZO SALAD



Mediterranean Orzo Salad image

This light and refreshing cold pasta salad is loaded with the flavors of the Mediterranean, and pairs well with grilled proteins, such as fish, pork, chicken or steak. If you make this in advance, reserve a bit of the dressing to add right before serving, as the pasta has a tendency to soak up the dressing as it sits over time.

Provided by Kim's Cooking Now

Categories     Salad     100+ Pasta Salad Recipes     Vegetarian Pasta Salad Recipes

Time 55m

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 14

½ (16 ounce) package uncooked orzo pasta
½ pint cherry tomatoes, halved
½ cup diced red onion
1 cup diced cucumber
1 cup pitted Mediterranean olives, cut in half
1 cup finely diced Asiago cheese
1 ½ teaspoons minced fresh garlic
½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
½ cup red wine vinegar
½ lemon, juiced
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
¼ cup chopped fresh basil
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Steps:

  • Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook orzo in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until tender yet firm to the bite, about 9 minutes. Drain well. Rinse with cold water and drain well again.
  • Combine orzo, cherry tomatoes, red onion, cucumber, olives, and Asiago cheese in a large bowl.
  • Whisk garlic, olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, salt, and pepper together in a small bowl to make the vinaigrette. Drizzle over the orzo mixture and toss lightly to combine. Add basil and parsley and mix well. Let sit for 20 minutes for flavors to blend, stirring occasionally.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 418.2 calories, Carbohydrate 34.7 g, Cholesterol 16.1 mg, Fat 27 g, Fiber 2.7 g, Protein 10.5 g, SaturatedFat 6.3 g, Sodium 819 mg, Sugar 2.6 g

CREAMY ORZO WITH HAM AND PEAS



Creamy Orzo With Ham and Peas image

A creamy, cheesy pasta dish you can eat with a spoon. Serve with green salad and garlic bread. Great comfort food.

Provided by KelBel

Categories     One Dish Meal

Time 25m

Yield 6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 lb orzo pasta
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large shallot, finely chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 lb smoked ham, cubed
1 1/4 cups half-and-half
1 cup frozen peas, thawed
3/4 cup parmesan cheese, grated
salt & freshly ground black pepper

Steps:

  • Bring a heavy large saucepan of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the orzo and cook until tender,about 8 minutes. Drain, reserving 1 cup of the cooking liquid.
  • Meanwhile, heat the oil in a heavy large frying pan over medium heat. Add the shallot and garlic, and saute until tender, about 2 minutes.
  • Add the ham and cook until they are heated through, about 5 minutes.
  • Stir in the half and half and peas. Add the orzo and toss to coat.
  • Remove the skillet from the heat. Add the Parmesan to the pasta mixture and toss to coat.
  • Stir in some reserved cooking liquid until pasta is desired consistency.
  • Season the orzo with salt and pepper, and serve.

Tips:

  • Prep your ingredients ahead of time: Chop the vegetables and cook the orzo pasta according to the package instructions while the ham is cooking. This will save you time and make the assembly process much quicker.
  • Use high-quality ingredients: The fresher the vegetables and the better the quality of the ham, the tastier your salad will be. Look for organic or locally-sourced ingredients whenever possible.
  • Don't overcook the orzo: Orzo should be cooked al dente, with a slight bite to it. Overcooked orzo will be mushy and unpleasant.
  • Let the salad chill before serving: This will allow the flavors to meld and develop. You can also make the salad ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
  • Serve the salad with a variety of toppings: Some popular options include grated Parmesan cheese, crumbled feta cheese, chopped fresh herbs, and a squeeze of lemon juice.

Conclusion:

Orzo ham salad is a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed for lunch, dinner, or as a side dish. It's easy to make and can be tailored to your own preferences. With its combination of orzo, ham, vegetables, and a tangy dressing, this salad is sure to be a hit with everyone who tries it.

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