Light and Refreshing Sesame Orzo Salad

Brighten up your table with this *Light and Refreshing Sesame Orzo Salad*, a vibrant fusion of wholesome ingredients and bold Asian-inspired flavors. Perfectly cooked orzo pasta is tossed with crisp bell peppers, cool cucumbers, crunchy carrots, and fresh cilantro, creating a delightful medley of textures. The star of the show is a tangy sesame-ginger dressing, made with soy sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, honey, and aromatic garlic and ginger, tying everything together with a savory and slightly sweet flair. Toasted sesame seeds add the perfect finishing touch for a subtle nuttiness. This quick and easy salad comes together in just 25 minutes and is served chilled or at room temperature, making it a refreshing side dish for summer picnics, potlucks, or a light make-ahead lunch. Bursting with flavor and loaded with fresh veggies, it's a dish you'll keep coming back to!

Nutriscore Rating: 76/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:10 mins

Total Time:25 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1.5 cups orzo pasta
• 1 medium red bell pepper
• 1 medium cucumber
• 1 large carrot
• 3 green onions
• 0.25 cup fresh cilantro
• 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1.5 tablespoons sesame oil
• 1.5 tablespoons rice vinegar
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 1 teaspoon ginger, grated
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 0.5 teaspoon salt
• 0.25 teaspoon black pepper

Directions

Step 1

Bring a medium-sized pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the orzo pasta according to package directions until al dente, about 8–10 minutes. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool, then set aside.

Step 2

While the pasta is cooking, finely dice the red bell pepper, cucumber, and carrot. Thinly slice the green onions and roughly chop the fresh cilantro.

Step 3

In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, honey, grated ginger, minced garlic, salt, and pepper to make the dressing.

Step 4

In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked orzo, diced vegetables, green onions, cilantro, and toasted sesame seeds.

Step 5

Pour the dressing over the salad ingredients and toss well to coat evenly.

Step 6

Refrigerate the salad for at least 20 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.

Step 7

Before serving, give the salad one final toss and taste to adjust seasoning if needed. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(844.5g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	1490.2

Total Fat 34.2g	0%
Saturated Fat 4.1g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 8.9g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 2393.8mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 261.0g	0%
Dietary Fiber 25.1g	0%
Total Sugars 22.4g
Protein 47.1g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 300.7mg	0%
Iron 15.5mg	0%
Potassium 1060.6mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 20.0%

Protein: 12.2%

Carbs: 67.8%