Quick and Easy Orzo Pasta Salad - Bocaux & Co

This article was written for Bocaux & Co, a Quebecois zero-waste bulk store in Sainte-Marthe-sur-le-lac.

Whether you’re looking for a quick and easy lunch or you want a simple side dish to bring to a barbecue, this fresh, creamy, and herbaceous pasta salad is bound to satisfy some cravings. While we’re using orzo in this recipe, you can definitely switch it out for any other type of pasta you want, like macaroni, fusilli, or conchigliette. If you’re missing any of the ingredients, don’t worry—these salads are very forgiving, so you can replace the pasta, vegetables, or spices with anything you already have in your kitchen.

All of the ingredients in this recipe can be found at Bocaux & Co. all year long, including the vegetables and herbs thanks to Lufa Farms and Marché Second Life.

What you need:

• 1/2 cup of uncooked orzo (80g)

• 1 cup of water (250mL)

• 8 garden tomatoes (250g)

• 2 cucumbers (180g)

• 1 tablespoon of your favourite mayo (vegan option: Canada Sauce Vegan Mayo)

• Fresh parsley

• Fresh mint

• Ground black pepper

• Ground coriander

• Onion powder

• Celery salt

How to make it:

1. Add water to a large pot and bring to a boil. Once the water is boiling, add a pinch of salt, then add the orzo. Cook for 7-8 minutes or until orzo is al dente. Drain and set aside to cool.

2. While the orzo cools down, cut the cucumber down its length in half, then slice each half into half-circles. Cut the tomatoes into quarters to make small wedges.

3. Finely chop a handful of parsley leaves and mint leaves (about 4 tablespoons worth).

4. Place the tomatoes, cucumbers, parsley, and mint in a large bowl. Add 1 tablespoon of mayo, then add ground pepper, ground coriander, onion powder, and celery salt (to your taste) into the bowl. Add the cooled orzo to the mix. Toss until well-mixed.

5. Serve at room temperature or chilled.

Did you make this recipe? Let us know in the comments below how it turned out!