Vegan Orzo Pasta Salad with Arugula and Meyer Lemon Dressing

Posted On: Feb, 18 |  Author:
Vegan Orzo Pasta Salad with Arugula and Meyer Lemon Dressing
Diet Info: DF GF F LF Na LS VG V Fa

Sharing with you a lite and fit vegan orzo pasta and wild arugula salad dressed in a simple meyer lemon dressing!

Meyer lemon is one of my favorite citrus and I love grabbing some whenever these are in season. Their sweet and sour taste is really unique, kinda combination of navel orange and lemon. No kidding, I use it in everything from cakes to lemonades, you name it!

Go Green Vegan Orzo Pasta Salad with Arugula and Meyer Lemon

No one likes whole wheat pasta in my home..... but I still bought a packet to use it somehow instead of white flour pasta. Picky eaters in home are fan of crunchy celery and peppery arugula. So, today's salad was an attempt to keep every one happy. I'm happy because this salad has almost 4 servings of vegetables and greens, plus whole wheat pasta. My picky eater happy because it is pasta, and has ton of crunch from fresh celery, bell peppers, color and sweetness of pom seeds, and subtle flavor of sweet 'n sour meyer lemon dressing!

Vegan Whole Wheat Orzo Pasta and Arugula Salad for your next party

total win-win! and salad looks so scrumptious and clean!! Isn't it?

I love-love foods that can keep health and picky eaters on same page!!! 

feel like to say...... Oh beautiful salad 'I love you!'

Lite and Fit Whole Wheat Orzo Pasta Salad

However, this is a very versatile salad too, easy to adapt to any available ingredients! Let me share with you how:

1. Instead of Orzo, you can use cooked long grain rice or any small semolina pasta too for this salad.
2. Instead of arugula, you can use fresh baby spinach or watercress also taste great. Only one condition, chop it well. Long stems of greens in this salad are never appealing!
3. Instead of yellow pepper, use three color or any bell peppers or even sweet pepper.
4. Instead of meyer lemon, or if you can't find meyer lemon, use equal parts lemon and navel orange juice.
5. Can't find pom seeds, use black sweet seedless grapes or blueberries!
6. This salad is VEGAN, but you can add 1/4 cup of goat cheese (crumbled) or feta for some extra oomph!
7. This salad is not gluten free, but if you decide to use rice, then it will be gluten free also. Just don't use cheese if using rice, that won't taste good.

Keeping today's post super simple just like this clean salad :) 

Healthy Vegan Whole Wheat Orzo and Arugula Salad

I hope you enjoy it because I'm drooling looking at these pictures! wanna make it again! soon!

Have a great day!

Cheers!

~Savita

Vegan Orzo Pasta Salad with Arugula and Meyer Lemon Dressing

Vegan Orzo Pasta Salad with Arugula and Meyer Lemon Dressing
Total Time: Prep Time: Cook Time: Cuisine: Italian () Difficulty: Easy
Yields: 4 Servings - Serves: 2
(2-3 substantial or 4 side servings.)

Ingredients

Meyer Lemon Dressing
Orzo Arugula Salad

Directions

  • 1. Bring a pot of water to rolling boil, season with salt. Add orzo pasta and cook until al dente (whole wheat orzo that I used cook just right in 9-10 minutes.)
  • Step for Recipe - Vegan Orzo Pasta Salad with Arugula and Meyer Lemon Dressing 2. While pasta is cooking, in a small bowl, add all dressing ingredients. Mix with whisk to emulsify oil with meyer lemon juice and set aside. Also chop celery, bell pepper, and arugula Additional Notes: I like arugula a little bite-size in this salad. Whole long stems of arugula does not work for me. So chop it if you like or keep it as-is.
  • Step for Recipe - Vegan Orzo Pasta Salad with Arugula and Meyer Lemon Dressing 3. When pasta has cooked, drain pasta and transfer to a clean wide salad bowl. Add half of the dressing and mix well. Set aside to cool completely.
  • Step for Recipe - Vegan Orzo Pasta Salad with Arugula and Meyer Lemon Dressing 4. Once pasta has cooled to touch, add chopped bell pepper, celery, and pom seeds to the orzo pasta with remaining dressing. Toss to combine. Add chopped arugula and gently toss to get everything in even proportion. Serve chilled or at room temperature!
DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE? Tag @SAVITACHEFDEHOME on Instagram and hashtag it #SAVITACHEFDEHOME

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14 Responses

  1. Mira, thank you so much! much appreciated!
  2. I love your salads Savita! Genius! Can't wait to try it! Pinned of course :)
  3. thanks :) You know when I moved to US, I used to laugh at everyone who ate raw greens or salads. silly!! right? but today, I can't get enough! I'm obsessed with salads. Your little(you think) brain makes awesome recipes, I often drool looking at them :) I'm happy to have u in my circle!
  4. Savita I love your salad recipes! You are so creative with mixing in ingredients and the dressing! My little brain cannot think much when it comes to salads..haha
  5. thank you so much, Shubha!
  6. Gorgeous looking dish:)
  7. Ritu, thank you so much!
  8. Super delicious salad. Healthy and yummy :)
  9. Gingi, thanks! I appreciate your words! Happy to see you stop by!
  10. Ahh, I'm in love with how fresh and zesty your style is! Your dishes belong in a restaurant! - www.domesticgeekgirl.com
  11. Anu, thanks!
  12. Savita, this salad looks awesomely delicious. Would love to give it a try soon! :)
  13. :) good one, Olivia! well, one way your first instinct told you right, whole wheat orzo does look like blanched almonds :)
  14. I first thought the orzo were almonds! lol Anyway... I have a whole box of orzo in my pantry that I had no idea what to do with. I guess I'll be making your salad! :)