Orzo Salad with Spinach and Tomato

Easy 30-minute vegan Orzo Salad recipe with fresh spinach, juicy tomatoes, and a garlic-vinegar dressing! Quick to prepare and only 7 simple ingredients.

This fresh Orzo Tomato Salad is such an easy side dish! And it only takes 7 ingredients and 30 minutes.

We combine chewy orzo with fresh spinach, juicy tomatoes, and a simple garlic-vinegar dressing.

Plus it's even better when made ahead of time. This gives the flavors a chance to blend and intensify after chilling in the fridge.

So it's great for meal prep, take-along lunches, and summer get-togethers as well.

Ingredients for Spinach Orzo Salad

For this recipe you will toss together in a large bowl:

• Orzo pasta: Orzo is typically not gluten-free. So you can try replacing it with cooked rice, quinoa, or small gluten-free pasta if needed.
• Fresh baby spinach leaves: We will use about 3 to 4 cups fresh spinach for this recipe.
• Grape tomatoes or cherry tomatoes: I use these because they have the most flavor. But you could also substitute roma tomatoes or ripe garden tomatoes if desired.
• Green onion (scallion): Or use thinly sliced red onion for a bolder taste.
• Red wine vinegar: Or substitute fresh lemon juice or balsamic vinegar for a different flavor profile.
• Fresh garlic cloves
• Dried basil: Or other herbs of choice such as dried Italian seasoning, dried oregano, etc.
• Salt: I use fine grain salt for this recipe. You can also include black pepper to taste if desired.

Tip: Pine nuts also add great texture to this salad!

Customizing

Olives + dairy-free cheese: Kalamata olives and vegan feta cheese crumbles add a really nice, salty pop of flavor.

Adding oil: The dressing is made oil-free, but feel free to whisk in a tablespoon of good quality olive oil if desired.

Vegetables: Toss in other veggies as you see fit. Sun-dried tomatoes, red bell pepper, roasted bell pepper, artichokes, etc.

Fresh herbs: These can add more brightness to this recipe. Try adding fresh basil, parsley, dill, etc.

Serving

Either serve this dish immediately, or let it chill in the refrigerator for at least an hour. This gives the flavors a chance to blend and intensify.

Note: It's a great dish to enjoy year round! Just be sure to find ripe, flavorful tomatoes because it can make all the difference.

For more inspiration, also browse all vegan salad recipes or tomato recipes.

Orzo Salad with Spinach and Tomato

A light orzo salad with fresh spinach, juicy tomatoes, and a garlic-vinegar dressing. Easy to prepare and only 7 simple ingredients!

4.60 from 5 votes

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Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes minutes

Author: Kaitlin - The Garden Grazer

Course: Salad, Side Dish

Cuisine: Gluten-Free Option, Oil-Free, Vegan

Servings: 5 side servings

US CustomaryMetric

Ingredients

• 1 cup orzo pasta (uncooked)
• 3-4 cups fresh baby spinach
• 8 oz. grape tomatoes
• 3 green onions
• Optional: kalamata olives or vegan feta add a great, salty pop of flavor

For the garlic-vinegar dressing:

• 3 Tbsp. red wine vinegar
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 tsp. dried basil
• 1/8 tsp. salt (more to taste)

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Instructions

• Cook orzo: Boil 2 cups water with some salt. Add 1 cup orzo, reduce heat, and gently simmer for 10-15 minutes until tender, stirring occasionally.
• Meanwhile, make the dressing: Add all dressing ingredients to a small bowl. Whisk/stir to combine. Set aside.
• Halve/quarter the tomatoes. Slice green onions. Roughly chop spinach if desired.
• In a large bowl place spinach, tomatoes, and green onion.
• When orzo is cooked, drain and immediately add to bowl. Stir well for a minute. (The heat from the orzo will lightly wilt the spinach.)
• Pour dressing over top and toss to combine.
• Recommended: Cover and let sit in fridge for an hour before serving so the flavors get a chance to blend and intensify.

Notes

Herbs: Add fresh basil (or other herbs) in the summertime for added flavor.

Gluten-free option: Orzo is not gluten-free, but you can try this with GF orzo if you can find it. Otherwise substitute your favorite gluten-free pasta.

Nutrition Per Serving (Estimate)

Nutrition Facts

Orzo Salad with Spinach and Tomato

Amount per Serving

Calories

129

% Daily Value*

Fat

 

1

g

2

%

Saturated Fat

 

1

g

6

%

Polyunsaturated Fat

 

1

g

Monounsaturated Fat

 

1

g

Potassium

 

306

mg

9

%

Carbohydrates

 

26

g

9

%

Fiber

 

2

g

8

%

Sugar

 

2

g

2

%

Protein

 

5

g

10

%

Vitamin A

 

2139

IU

43

%

Vitamin C

 

13

mg

16

%

Calcium

 

40

mg

4

%

Iron

 

1

mg

6

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Sodium: This is omitted as I cannot provide an accurate number. I encourage you to calculate your own to provide a much more precise reading based on the exact ingredients, brands, and amounts you're using.

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If you are enjoying this vegan Orzo Spinach Tomato Salad recipe, also check out:

• Arugula Pasta Salad
• Asian Style Chopped Salad
• BBQ Chickpea Chopped Salad
• Asparagus Mushroom Stir Fry

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