Prepare this fantastic orzo pasta salad filled with aromatic herbs and lemon, and serve it with salmon or spinach pie. The leftovers served cold are perfect for lunch the next day.

This orzo pasta salad features capers, parsley, almonds, and caramelized sweet red onions, all dressed in a vinaigrette made with olive oil and lemon juice.

Jump to:

What is orzo pasta?
What are capers?
Why should you make this orzo pasta salad?
What kind of ingredients go into this salad
How to make orzo pasta salad:
How to store the leftovers:
Can I make this salad the day before:
Kitchen tools to make this pasta salad:
How to serve
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What is orzo pasta?

Orzo is a type of pasta that looks like a large grain of rice. It is also called risoni. This pasta is usually made out of semolina, which is a type of flour made out of durum wheat.

This type of pasta is versatile, as you can add it to soups, make salads with it, serve it as a side dish or bake it in a casserole.

What are capers?

Capers are edible flower buds of the caper plant. This plant grows in Europe, especially in some Mediterranean countries.

These edible flower buds are salted or pickled and used as a seasoning or garnish. They are dark olive green and a common ingredient in Mediterranean cuisines, like Italian, Greek, Cyprus, etc.

You can find jars of capers in most US stores, and you can use them in many recipes.

Orzo Pasta Salad in a white bowl close up

Why should you make this orzo pasta salad?

It is easy to make - With just a few ingredients, you can make a delicious pasta salad that is elegant and simple to make.
This salad travels well - The onions are caramelized, the capers are brined, and the rest of the ingredients will not spoil quickly. The dressing is made with lemon and olive oil, which makes it safer for picnics or warm days.
It is a light salad - This salad is good not only in the summer but anytime you need to make an elegant side dish to serve with grilled or roasted meats. There is no mayo or other dairy ingredients, making this recipe a light one.
Delicious - Nothing is better than a salad infused with olive oil and lemon juice. This recipe reminds me so much of Mediterranean recipes, where less is more and simple ingredients make the best recipes ever.

What kind of ingredients go into this salad

The textures and flavors in this salad are balanced, and the simple vinaigrette is to die for. Here you have a visual list of the ingredients.

Orzo Pasta

Orzo pasta is the choice for this recipe, but if you can't find it, any type of pasta you would use in a salad would work here.

Red Onions

The caramelized red onion gives this salad character, sweetness, and color. I would not replace it with other types of onions.

Garlic

We use it here for flavor. Feel free to skip it if you don't like it.

Capers

Please ensure that you buy a jar of these small capers. Some jars have berry capers, which are the actual fruit of the capers plant. These berries are much larger and very different in taste and texture.

Almonds

I used slivered almonds, but you can also use sliced almonds or even chopped whole almonds.

Parsley

I like the Italian parsley, the one with the flat leaf. It has a lot of flavor, and the color is very intense.

Olive oil, butter, brown sugar

We use them for caramelizing the onions and garlic. The brown sugar adds depth to the onions, but you can always go with regular sugar instead.

Dressing: Lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper

This is the easiest dressing you can make for most salads, in general. Fresh lemon juice is better than a canned one. Don't be afraid to use the zest of the lemon as well. It adds more flavor.

How to make orzo pasta salad:

(For the complete set of instructions, see the recipe card at the end of the article.)

Step 1. Cook the onions.

Heat the oil and butter in a nonstick pan. Cook the onions slowly, making sure they don't burn. Add minced garlic and sugar and cook more until the onion looks golden and caramelized. Set aside to cool.

Step 2. Cook the pasta.

In the meantime, cook the orzo pasta according to the package. I cooked my orzo in boiling salted water for 5 minutes.

Drain and drizzle a few drops of oil over the pasta to keep the grains separated and fluffy. Set them aside to cool.

Step 3. Make the dressing:

In a small bowl/jar, whisk together oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Taste and correct the salt according to your taste.

About the salt: I always say that the amounts of salt on the list of ingredients are there to guide you on what the recipe should taste like. The rest is up to you.

Maybe you need to consume less salt, maybe you like it saltier, there is no right or wrong here. Make the recipe yours.

Step 4. Assemble the salad.

Place pasta, caramelized onions, chopped parsley, basil, capers, and half the almonds in a large bowl.

Add the dressing and toss the salad gently. Make sure the dressing coats all ingredients.

Sprinkle the rest of the almonds over the salad and serve.

How to store the leftovers:

The salad will keep well in the refrigerator for up to three days.

Can I make this salad the day before:

Yes, I would recommend adding only half of the dressing to your salad when you make it. The day you serve it, add the rest of the dressing and mix it gently. If you add from the beginning all dressing, the pasta tends to absorb it all, and the salad will taste dry.

Kitchen tools to make this pasta salad:

Lemon and lime juice squeezer: This 2-in-1 lemon/lime press can juice limes, large lemons, and even small-sized oranges. It is my absolute favorite tool in the kitchen and I used it very often.

Non-Stick Frying Pan: Everyone needs a good frying pan. Even if you are not a passionate cook and kitchen tools are not your thing, at least get a good quality skillet.

A Good Pot to boil pasta: I do not make pasta very often, but I like this pot because of the strainer lid that helps you get rid of the water after you cook the pasta.