Got an easy and healthyish recipe for ya, friends! I love the orzo pasta salad from The Fresh Market. Like, love it so much that I eat it for breakfast kind of regularly, which was the inspiration for this recipe. It’s an easy one – you just cook the pasta, whip up a quick vinaigrette and add in spinach, cherry tomatoes and pine nuts! When you mix in the spinach with the freshly cooked pasta, it wilts and absorbs the vinaigrette leaving you with a light but tasty dish.
This recipe tastes great served warm or cold. Add some grilled chicken for an easy lunch or make a big batch for a tailgate or potluck. It keeps well too; I’ll make it on Sunday night and eat for lunch and dinner throughout the week. Check out the recipe below!
- 8oz orzo pasta
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 3 tsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 tsp soy sauce
- 1/2 tsp minced garlic
- 2 tbsp toasted pine nuts
- 1/2 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
- 2 cups fresh spinach
- salt and pepper to taste
- Cook orzo according to package.
- Make vinaigrette: whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, soy sauce, garlic and salt and pepper to taste.
- Once pasta is done cooking, immediately drain and transfer to bowl. Add fresh spinach and stir to combine until spinach is wilted.
- Add vinaigrette, tomatoes and pine nuts. Stir to combine.
- Serve immediately or keep in airtight container in the fridge up to one week.
So fresh, easy and yum! The perfect recipe for your summer BBQs and cookouts. If you like this Copy-Cat Fresh Market Orzo Pasta Salad, you’ll probably like this Copy-Cat Kroger Deli Chicken Salad! Let me know if you give it a shot!
Biscuits & blessings,
Leels
Just discovered this Fresh Market Orzo ( bought at TFM) It’s delicious.Read their ingredient label. They use canola oil ( maybe to save $$)
It’s about 7$$ / pound.I could not detect soy flavor, but I am looking forward to making this per your recipe. I can probably make 2 pounds for 4 dollars.
Thanks
James
Hi James! So glad you found this recipe. I agree they probably used canola oil for $ purposes, the olive oil may also add a bit extra flavor but I prefer it over canola! Would love to know what you think!
It came out really good.It’s tasty, healthy and adjustable for ones tastes. ( ie: garlic or onion etc).
The pine nuts are godawful expensive ( Not your fault.!!) but worth the crunch.Maybe a sub of some uncooked cauliflower for crunch for some .
Thanks,
Next if the seafood salad ( have you come up with one for that one?)
Made this once again, and substituted sliced almonds for the pine nuts. I will tell you what. didnt miss the pine nuts at all. Plus they are readily available and probably 1/3 the cost. Doubled the amount in the recipe and made for quite the nice crunch
Oh smart idea! I’ll have to try that next time, thanks!
I doubled the garlic and lemon juice & it was more flavorful & very close to the salad I know & love… Moved to Texas & miss Fresh Market!
I love this recipe, however, I will not substitute the pine nuts for anything else. The pine nuts, at least in my opinion, are what really makes the dish. They have a distinct flavor, and I believe replacing them with anything else, will not give me the same result. Yup, they are expensive, but the recipe does not call for a large amount.
I love the pine nuts too!