This orzo salad is a copycat of the one sold at Piada Italian Street Food… it’s crunchy, a little sweet, a little savory, and always a hit at parties!
If you’ve ever been to Piada Italian Street Food, you’ve probably had, or heard of, the orzo salad. Â This copycat recipe tastes JUST like it!!
You guys. Â We had a Piada Italian Street Food open up here a few years back, and once we tried it…. WOWzers! Â All the food tastes so fresh and bright. Â I swear this post isn’t an ad for them, as I’m not affiliated with them in any way, but it all comes down to this one side dish they sell. Â It might be seasonal, but all I know for sure is that it is flat-out amazing!
I literally would order this orzo salad every. single. time we went there, and over the years I’ve been working on a copycat version. Â I’m SO happy to say, this is IT. Â It tastes exactly like the original, and is absolutely perfect for any occasion!
To me, it’s awesome for a cookout or BBQ, but we also have it a side dish on a regular weeknight.
What makes this orzo salad the best, is that it’s a make-ahead dish!  It’s actually better, the longer it sits.  Of course, you can totally make this and eat it right away, but all the flavors won’t be perfectly blended together.  Plus, if you make it up ahead of time, then when it’s time for dinner or the cookout, you don’t have to do anything 😉 Boom!
I have to stop for a second to laugh at that picture up there…. it’s such a smallllll portion size. Â Actually it might be a standard portion, but for me, it’s small. Â Because one bite of this orzo salad, and you’ll be wanting way more!
Okay, so what to serve this salad with… honestly the sky is the limit! Â But here are a few of my favorites:
- Caribbean Citrus Habanero Chicken Skewers
- Grilled Steakhouse Kebabs
- Maple Balsamic Glazed Pork Chops
- Grilled Chicken Salad with Strawberries
- Coffee-Rubbed Burgers or Pepper Crusted Bacon Cheeseburgers
Please please please do yourself a favor and give this orzo salad a try this summer… the combination of textures and sweet/savory flavors is amazing!
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Ingredients
LEMON BASIL DRESSING:
- 3 Tbsp lemon juice (fresh is best)
- 3 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 Tbsp fresh basil, minced
- 1/2 Tbsp honey
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
ORZO SALAD:
- 1 lb orzo pasta
- heaping 1/3 cup fresh sugar snap peas, sliced
- 1/8 cup currants (raisins will also work if you can't find currants)
- 1/4 cup red bell pepper, minced
- 1/8 cup sliced raw almonds
- 1/8 cup candied pecans, crushed or minced
- 1 Tbsp fresh basil, minced
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Instructions
MAKE THE DRESSING:
- Add all dressing ingredients except olive oil to a small mixing bowl. Slowly pour in olive oil, while whisking continuously. Set aside.
MAKE THE ORZO SALAD:
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil, add a pinch of salt and orzo. Cook until al dente, according to package directions. Drain, rinse lightly with cold water and set aside.
- To a large mixing bowl, add cooked orzo, and all remaining ingredients. Toss to combine.
- Give lemon basil dressing a whisk, then pour over orzo salad. Toss to combine again.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least an hour, or up to 2-3 days. Toss gently before serving.
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Tami says
 Made your salad use lime instead of lemon tomatoes instead peppers added feta cheese and spinach leaves it rocked
Carlos At Spoonabilities says
Orzo pasta salad is one of my favorite salads. I never tried or heard about Piada. I can eat this salad with a nice grilled shrimp:)
Cookin Canuck says
Orzo salads are one of my favorite things to bring to a summertime potluck. I need to try this version, for sure!
katerina @ diethood.com says
I LOVE this salad! Its the perfect! I can’t wait to give it a try!! YUM!
Patricia @ Grab a Plate says
Love it when you can recreate a favorite! Nice! This looks really good – such pretty pictures!
Dee says
I need to add this to my list of summer salads — it looks wonderful!
Jen says
Wow! this looks so good! I love the idea of making it for Sunday BBQ and hoping and praying that there will be leftovers to eat during the week. Maybe I should just make a double batch to be safe 😉
Stephanie says
Looks like the perfect side for just about any meal!
Quinn Caudill says
I have cooked a bunch of orzo lately and I love this salad. Piada has great food my kids love so I will be making this soon.
Erin @ The Speckled Palate says
LOOK at that salad! I’d love a scoop of this to accompany my lunch today!