Orzo_Salad_With_Mandarin_Oranges

Orzo Salad With Mandarin Oranges

And one of my favorite recipes of this year is one that I got introduced to by my wonderful friend Hui from Asia – orzo salad with mandarin oranges❤️

Initially, before trying out this interesting combination I was skeptical – how could mixing fruit with pasta be any good? But, I quickly found out I was so, so wrong. This deliciously yummy meal is not only packed with essential vitamins that will benefit your tummy, but also a great side dish for a potluck or picnic.

What Is Orzo Salad?

Orzo salad is a salad made out of orzo pasta. Although it is traditionally made from flour, it can also be made of whole grain and there are many gluten free alternatives. In Italy, Orzo is often boiled in soups, like minestrone. It can also be boiled and lightly fried, to create a dish similar to risotto.

Adding mandarin oranges into the mix gives the pasta a more punchy flavor and makes it easier to digest because of all the healthy orange juice that benefits your stomach.

Mandarin oranges are quite special because they are smaller descendants of the common orange, yet they pack many times more Vitamin C, phytonutrients and have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits. They not only increase your gut health, but can actually reduce to risk of kidney stones and power your immune system, filling it with essential minerals that fight against oxidative damage.

In combination with orzo salad, this can be a powerful meal, yet such a simple one to make.

Orzo Salad With Mandarin Oranges

Getting started with your orzo salad is not a big deal and takes less than 30 minutes. Following my recipe below is simple and anyone can do it!

Orzo Salad With Mandarin Oranges

  • 200 g Orzo pasta
  • 1 or 2 mandarin orange
  • 1/2 head of purple onion
  • 1 carrot
  • 1 celery
  • 4 tbsp zest and lemon juice
  • 5-6 leaves of fresh mint
  • 2 tbsp fresh parsley leaf ( chopped)
  • 20 g pistachios (finely chopped)
  • 100 ml olive oil (extra virgin)
  • 1-2 tbsp balsmaic vinegear
  • pinch of salt and pepper

  1. Start preparing your orzo salad with mandarin oranges by cooking the orzo pasta with other vegetables. Strain the cooked paste and rinse with cold water. Leave to cool for 5 minutes and shake occasionally so that it does not stick.

  2. Peel an orange and cut it into slices, then separate the skin (leave the "flesh").

  3. Chop the onion into thin slices, put in a bowl with the paste together with the lemon juice and zest, then add the mint and parsley, and the chopped pistachios.

  4. Add the olive oil, season and stir. Leave covered with foil for 15 minutes to bind the ingredients.

  5. Stir once more and transfer to a serving plate. Drizzle balsamic vinegar on top and serve. This delicious orzo salad with mandarin oranges is ideal for picnics, lunchboxes or buffets, etc.

And here we are! What a wonderful recipe!
It will go into my Quick + Easy category because its so effortless to create.

Thank you for reading my guide on how to prepare this yummy orzo salad with mandarin oranges! ❤️

Let me know if you have any questions or thoughts in the comments below, rate my recipe if you’d liked it, and as always, I’m sending much love to you!❤️

– Luka