This instant pot orzo pasta salad is a quick and easy summer side dish that's perfect for picnics, barbecues, or potlucks. It's a versatile dish that you may customise to your tastes.
What is Orzo?
Orzo is a type of pasta resembling large rice or barley grains. It's made from semolina flour, the same type used to make many other pasta shapes. Orzo is commonly used in salads, soups, and pilafs.
Here are some of my favourite summer recipes that you can try for your next picnic or potluck like Air fryer baby carrots, Asian cucumber salad, Chickpea salad or Peanut chaat
Why you'll love this orzo salad?
- It's vegan
- It can easily be customized
- Easy to make in under 20 minutes
- The best part is you can make a head and refrigerate
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Ingredients for instant pot orzo pasta salad
Orzo pasta: I have used regular orzo pasta, but can use Gluten free
Olive oil: I used extra virgin oil, which gives the best flavour to the salad
Italian herbs: Dried Italian herbs are used
Grape tomatoes: I used grape tomatoes, but can use cherry tomatoes
Fresh herbs: Mint and basil leaves are used
Lemon: Fresh lemon juice is used for dressing
Seasoning: Salt and black pepper
Cucumber, garlic and baby spinach are used
For the details of the exact quantities of each ingredient, check the recipe card below
How to make Instant Pot Orzo salad?
While the pressure cooker is cooling down, prepare the veggies and other all the ingredients
Place the inner pot inside the Instant Pot. Switch on the sauté mode. Once the inner pot is hot, add olive oil.
Add the pasta and saute well with the oil.
Add water, salt and mix well. Cancel the sauté mode. Close the lid and keep the valve in sealing mode.
Select pressure cook mode and set it to high pressure for 4 minutes
After 5 minutes of NPR, followed by a quick release.
Allow it to cool before adding the other ingredients.
Add olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, Italian seasoning, diced cucumber, black pepper, salt, tomatoes and fresh herbs
Then add baby spinach and give a nice mix. Check the seasoning if needed add more and serve
Cooking Orzo on the stovetop
Cook the orzo in sufficient boiling water with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and ½ teaspoon of salt for 8-10 minutes or as per package instructions.
Drain the pasta and add all the ingredients and mix well.
Serve immediately or refrigerate if you're making it in advance.
How to cook Orzo pasta in a pressure cooker?
- The ratio of orzo to water: 1: 2 ( one cup orzo: 2 cups of liquid)
- 4 minutes high pressure
- Quick release
- Add oil while cooking to avoid stickiness.
- Drain excess liquid if there and rinse in cold water. However, after cooling they will separate.
- The best part is you can make this orzo pasta salad ahead of time and refrigerate it. In fact, pasta salads often taste even better after they have had time to marinate and the flavours have melded together.
Substitutions and Variations
Instead of Orzo, you can use other grain pasta, rice, couscous or quinoa.
Add your favourite veggies like mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes, olives or grilled vegetables to make it more flavourful.
To add some protein, you can add grilled chicken, chickpeas, black beans or seeds like sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds or hemp seeds.
You can add some cheese like feta or mozzarella for a creamy flavour.
Storage
Fridge: Store the orzo pasta salad in an airtight box and refrigerate for 3-4 days.
Reheat: If you prefer warm reheat in the microwave for a few minutes.
Tips and tricks
- To avoid stickiness, saute the orzo in the oil before adding any liquid.
- The ratio of orzo to water is 1: 2 for instant pot
FAQ
No, you do not need to pre-soak orzo pasta before cooking it in an Instant Pot. Unlike some other types of pasta, orzo does not require pre-soaking.
I do not recommend freezing orzo pasta salad, as the texture of the pasta and other ingredients may change when thawed
Yes, the ingredients used in the recipe are all vegan.
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📖 Recipe
Easy Instant Pot Orzo Pasta Salad
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup Orzo pasta
- 2 cups water
- ¼ cup Grape tomatoes halved
- ¼ cup Cucumber chopped
- 2 tablespoon Olive oil
- 2 tablespoon Lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 2 Cloves Garlic minced
- ¼ cup Baby spinach
- ¼ cup Fresh mixed herbs mint & basil chopped
- Black pepper to taste
- Salt to taste
Instructions
Cooking Orzo pasta in Instant Pot
- Place the inner pot inside the Instant Pot. Switch on the sauté mode. Once the inner pot is hot, add olive oil.
- Add the pasta and sauté well with the oil
- Add water, salt and mix well. Cancel the sauté mode. Close the lid and keep the valve in sealing mode.
- Select pressure cook mode and set it to high pressure for 4 minutes
- After 5 minutes of NPR, followed by a quick release. Allow it to cool.
- Add olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, Italian seasoning, diced cucumber, black pepper, salt, tomatoes and fresh herbs to cooked and cooled orzo.
- Then add baby spinach and give a nice mix. Check the seasoning if needed add more and serve
Cooking Orzo on the stovetop
- Cook the orzo in sufficient boiling water with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and ½ teaspoon of salt for 8-10 minutes or as per package instructions.
- Drain the pasta and add all the ingredients and mix well.
- Serve immediately or refrigerate if you're making it in advance.
Video
Notes
- To avoid stickiness, saute the orzo in the oil before adding any liquid.
- The ratio of orzo to water is 1: 2 for instant pot
Nutrition
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