Best 5 Orzo Salad With Spicy Buttermilk Dressing Recipes

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Calling all pasta salad lovers! You're in for a tangy, spicy treat with our Orzo Salad with Spicy Buttermilk Dressing. This vibrant dish combines perfectly cooked orzo pasta, a medley of fresh vegetables, and a zesty buttermilk dressing that'll tantalize your taste buds. Prepare to be delighted by the crunch of bell peppers, the sweetness of cherry tomatoes, the tang of red onion, and the freshness of parsley, all dancing harmoniously in every bite. The secret weapon in this salad is the spicy buttermilk dressing, made with a blend of creamy buttermilk, zesty lemon juice, a hint of Dijon mustard, and just the right amount of heat from cayenne pepper. It's a flavor explosion that will have you coming back for seconds (and thirds!).

This article features a collection of four additional tantalizing recipes that are sure to satisfy every palate:

1. **Creamy Pesto Pasta Salad**: Indulge in a creamy, flavorful pasta salad made with pesto, roasted red peppers, and a hint of lemon.

2. **Caprese Pasta Salad**: Experience the classic flavors of Caprese salad in pasta form, with fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil.

3. **BLT Pasta Salad**: A fun twist on the classic BLT sandwich, this pasta salad combines bacon, lettuce, and tomato with a tangy dressing.

4. **Greek Orzo Salad**: Transport yourself to the Mediterranean with this flavorful salad featuring orzo, cucumber, tomatoes, feta cheese, and a tangy vinaigrette.

Get ready to elevate your pasta salad game and impress your friends and family with these delicious recipes. From the spicy kick of the Orzo Salad with Spicy Buttermilk Dressing to the creamy indulgence of the Creamy Pesto Pasta Salad, there's something for everyone to enjoy. Let's get cooking!

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

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

CREAMY SOUTHWESTERN ORZO SALAD



Creamy Southwestern Orzo Salad image

This creamy southwestern orzo salad is the perfect blend of spicy, creamy, and crispy. The bold flavors make this salad not only a crowdpleaser at gatherings, but also a great lunch!

Provided by Rachel Gurk

Categories     Salads

Time 20m

Number Of Ingredients 11

16 ounce package orzo
1 1/2 cups corn (fresh, frozen, or canned)
1 can (15 ounce) black beans, rinsed and drained
1 red bell pepper, diced small
1/2 cup green onions, thinly sliced ((about 3 green onions or scallions))
8 ounces sharp white cheddar, cut into small cubes
1 pkg (1 ounce) Ranch Salad Dressing and Seasoning Mix
1 cup buttermilk
1 cup mayonnaise ((I like the kind made with olive oil))
1 tablespoon taco seasoning
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro, opt.

Steps:

  • In a small bowl, mix together mayonnaise, buttermilk, ranch salad dressing mix, and taco seasoning. Place in fridge while you make the rest of the salad.
  • Cook orzo as directed on package. Drain and rinse with cold water. Drain well.
  • Meanwhile, cut corn off cob into a large bowl. Add black beans, bell pepper, green onions, orzo, and cheddar.
  • Pour dressing over salad and stir to combine. Serve immediately or store covered in the fridge until ready to serve.

Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 1 serving, Calories 456 kcal, Carbohydrate 42 g, Protein 14 g, Fat 26 g, SaturatedFat 8 g, Cholesterol 36 mg, Sodium 344 mg, Fiber 2 g, Sugar 5 g, TransFat 1 g, UnsaturatedFat 17 g

ORZO SALAD



Orzo Salad image

Provided by Food Network

Categories     side-dish

Time 3h

Yield 8 cups

Number Of Ingredients 17

2 teaspoons lemon zest (1 lemon)
6 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice (2 to 3 lemons)
1 medium clove garlic, grated
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more as needed
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 large red, yellow or orange bell pepper, diced
1/2 large seedless English cucumber, watery pulp scooped out and discarded, diced (about 1 1/2 cups)
1/2 medium red onion, finely chopped (about 3/4 cup)
1 (15.5-ounce) can chickpeas (garbanzo beans), rinsed and drained
1 cup pitted and halved Kalamata olives
1 cup roughly chopped walnuts
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh mint
3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh Italian flat-leaf parsley
3 tablespoon kosher salt
1 pound dried orzo
6 ounces brine-packed Greek feta, crumbled (optional)

Steps:

  • To make the dressing, in a small mixing bowl, whisk together the lemon zest and juice, garlic, 1/2 cup olive oil, 2 teaspoons of salt and 1 teaspoon of pepper. Set the dressing aside.
  • To make the salad, combine the bell pepper, cucumber, onion, chickpeas, olives, walnuts, mint and parsley in a large mixing bowl.
  • Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Stir in 3 tablespoons of salt and a small splash of olive oil. Add the orzo and cook for 7 to 9 minutes, or according to the directions on the package. Drain the orzo in a colander, then add it to the vegetable mixture while the orzo is still hot. Immediately pour the dressing onto the orzo and vegetables, and stir to combine. The hot orzo will readily absorb the dressing. Add a splash more olive oil if the salad seems too dry. Allow the salad to cool to room temperature, and add the feta, if desired. Cover and refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours.
  • Give the salad a stir, then taste and adjust the seasoning before serving, if need be.

ORZO SALAD WITH SPICY BUTTERMILK DRESSING



Orzo Salad with Spicy Buttermilk Dressing image

Love macaroni salad, and love orzo....this is a combination of the two. This is a variation of what was found in a local newspaper, the Gulf Breeze News.

Provided by Lynette !

Categories     Pasta Sides

Time 30m

Number Of Ingredients 20

SALAD:
1 c orzo pasta, uncooked
1 c corn
12 cherry tomatoes, quartered
3 green onions, sliced
15 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
DRESSING:
1/4 c buttermilk (low fat ok)
3 Tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped and divided
3 Tbsp fresh lime juice
2 Tbsp sour cream (light ok)
2 Tbsp mayonnaise
1 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp ground red pepper
2 clove garlic, minced
GARNISH:
1 avocado, peeled and pitted, cut into 8 slices
1 Tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

Steps:

  • 1. Cook orzo according to package directions, omitting salt and fat. Drain and rinse; drain well.
  • 2. Place orzo, corn, and next 3 ingredients (through beans) in a large bowl; toss.
  • 3. Combine buttermilk, 2 tablespoons cilantro, and next 8 ingredients (through garlic) in a small bowl, stirring well with a whisk.
  • 4. Drizzle over orzo mixture; toss. Top with avocado; garnish with remaining cilantro and parsley.

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

Tips:

  • Start with a good quality orzo. Look for a brand that is made with durum wheat and has a slightly nutty flavor.
  • Cook the orzo al dente. This means that it should be tender but still have a slight bite to it.
  • Use a variety of vegetables. This will give your salad color, texture, and flavor. Some good options include cherry tomatoes, cucumber, bell peppers, and olives.
  • Make the dressing ahead of time. This will allow the flavors to meld and develop.
  • Taste the salad before serving and adjust the seasonings as needed. You may want to add more salt, pepper, or lemon juice.
  • Serve the salad immediately or chill it for later.

    Conclusion:

    This orzo salad with spicy buttermilk dressing is a delicious and refreshing side dish that is perfect for potlucks, picnics, and barbecues. It is also a great way to use up leftover vegetables. So next time you are looking for a light and healthy meal, give this salad a try. Note: For the best results, use fresh, high-quality ingredients.

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