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Spicy Orzo Pasta Salad with Roasted Tomatoes

September 20, 2018 by Emily Brees 4 Comments - This post may contain affiliate links.

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Spicy Orzo Pasta Salad is the perfect picnic salad with orzo, sweet roasted tomatoes, fresh spinach, and toasted walnuts. Seasoned with lemon, garlic and harissa for a spicy and sweet pasta salad with a nutty crunch.

Spicy Roasted Tomato Pasta Salad close up

This summer we heard a LOT of bluegrass music. Which is awesome because we love it! Most of the shows we went to involved some sort of picnic. Pasta salads are perfect to tote to picnics! So this orzo pasta salad was invented when I realized we needed food and I hadn’t prepared anything!

That’s when some of the best ideas happen for me.  The added pressure of “last minute” eliminates all the over-thinking that usually results in lengthy idea lists and toiling over what would be most delicious. For me, too much time = way less productivity in almost ANYTHING I do.

Anyone else this same way?

As I was rushing around the kitchen, in just these quick + easy steps I created this Spicy Orzo Pasta Salad grabbing cherry tomatoes, spinach, walnuts, lemon, garlic and harissa to give it a spicy kick!

There’s something about the flavors combination of harissa and the walnuts that makes it so delicious!

How to Make this Spicy Orzo PASTA SALAD

step by step photos for making orzo pasta salad

What is harissa?

If you’ve never tried harissa seasoning or paste, you need to. It’s a North African seasoning that has spicy red peppers mixed with coriander and cumin and myriad other spices. I went through a harissa craze awhile back from Roasted Tomato Soup with Harissa to Moroccan Vegetable Almond Pilaf. It’s definitely a spice to keep around in your kitchen.

Spicy Roasted Tomato Pasta Salad is the most delicious way to use cherry tomatoes - especially if they're homegrown! Orzo pasta tossed with sweet roasted tomatoes, fresh spinach, toasted walnuts then seasoned with lemon and harissa to create a spicy and sweet pasta salad with a nutty crunch. | #PASTA | #SALAD | #TOMATOES | #VEGETARIAN | #Recipes at OatandSesame.com

This Spicy Orzo Pasta Salad can be served as a side dish or eaten all by itself with a big spoon! It can be served with grilled chicken at all your summer bbqs.

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5 from 3 votes
Spicy Roasted Tomato Pasta Salad is the most delicious way to use cherry tomatoes - especially if they're homegrown! Orzo pasta tossed with sweet roasted tomatoes, fresh spinach, toasted walnuts then seasoned with lemon and harissa to create a spicy and sweet pasta salad with a nutty crunch. | #PASTA | #SALAD | #TOMATOES | #VEGETARIAN | #Recipes at OatandSesame.com
Print
Spicy Orzo Pasta Salad with Roasted Tomatoes
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
20 mins
 

Spicy Orzo Pasta Salad is the most delicious way to use cherry tomatoes - especially if they're homegrown! Orzo pasta tossed with sweet roasted tomatoes, fresh spinach, toasted walnuts then seasoned with lemon and harissa to create a spicy and sweet pasta salad with a nutty crunch.

Course: dinner, Main Course, Pasta, Salad
Cuisine: American
Keyword: tomato salad
Servings: 4
Calories: 480 kcal
Author: Emily Brees | OatandSesame
Ingredients
  • 1 cup toasted walnut pieces
  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 2.5 Tbs olive oil, divided
  • 1/2 tsp Kosher salt, plus a pinch for the tomatoes
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper, plus a pinch for the tomatoes
  • 8 ounces dry orzo pasta
  • 1 zest of 1 lemon + juice of 1/2 of lemon
  • 2 tsp harissa seasoning
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1.5 - 2 cups fresh baby spinach, roughly chopped
  • 1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese optional
Instructions
  1. Heat oven to 400 F. Pop the walnuts on a baking sheet and toast for about 5 minutes while the oven is heating. Don't forget to set a timer - nuts can burn so quickly!

  2. On a parchment lined rimmed baking sheet, combine sliced tomatoes with 1 Tbs olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast for 15 minutes until juicy and starting to brown.

  3. While the tomatoes are roasting, cook the orzo pasta according to package instructions. Approx. 8 min.

  4. When the pasta is cooked, drain and place in a large mixing bowl. While the pasta is still warm, add 1.5 Tbs olive oil, zest of 1 lemon, juice of half a lemon, garlic, 1/2 tsp Kosher salt and harissa seasoning. Mix well.

  5. Add chopped spinach and walnuts. Gently mix.

  6. Add roasted tomatoes with their juices. Toss to combine.

  7. Top with shredded parmesan cheese.

  8. Serve warm or room temperature.

Notes

*Options: add grilled chicken or roasted chickpeas for extra protein.

Nutrition Facts
Spicy Orzo Pasta Salad with Roasted Tomatoes
Amount Per Serving (1 g)
Calories 480
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.


Roasted Tomato Orzo Salad

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Tate

    May 5, 2019 at 4:23 pm

    I forgot to add the garlic, but this dish was still insanely delicious!

    Reply
    • Emily Brees

      May 5, 2019 at 5:13 pm

      Aw! Thank you so much for leaving this comment Tate! Made my day! I’m so happy you liked it!

      Reply
  2. Holly

    April 24, 2022 at 10:53 am

    Loved this ! However I roasted the toms as I would a soup with basil / garlic cloves / extra garlic salt etc and oil and used the mushed garlic cloves in the salad. Delish !!!

    Reply
    • Emily Brees

      April 24, 2022 at 5:20 pm

      Thanks Holly! Happy it was a delicious meal for you!

      Reply

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I'm Emily - a home cook, gardener and recipe creator located in Flagstaff, AZ.

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