Orzo Pasta Salad with Kale, Pomegranate & Orange Vinaigrette
Feb 24, 2017, Updated Jan 02, 2018
Refreshing Orzo Pasta Salad with kale, pomegranate & orange vinaigrette!
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
I was compensated by Nielsen-Massey Vanillas for my time in developing this recipe and post. All opinions are my own.
Orzo Pasta Salad with Kale, Oranges, Pomegranate & Orange Vinaigrette – a refreshing and healthy salad!
It’s such a struggle to eat healthy, isn’t it? I will be the 1st one to admit that I struggle with it. I wish I was a planner who would plan meals for the week ahead and make sure that everything is healthy but I am not, in fact I am just the opposite. I do not plan anything, not my travel plans, not my food, absolutely nothing. When I was in school/college, I never even planned my studies. While everyone had a clear chalked out list of what to study, I studied whatever I felt like at that moment. How I always got good grades in school is a mystery!
Anyway back to talking about healthy food. The thing is if you plan well, you can be better prepared to eat healthy. But like I said I don’t and so if I want to eat healthy, I have to make something quick which should also taste good. Now it’s misconception that healthy and tasty cannot co-exist. Sure I love my butter and sugar and everything that you add them to turns out super tasty. But healthy can also be tasty  like this Orzo Pasta Salad with Orange Vinaigrette.
While cooking a healthy dish/meal, my focus is always on using fresh, real ingredients. No processed food, just real food which is good for your body. It’s also important to choose pure ingredients with rich, complex flavor profiles just like I did by using Nielsen-Massey Vanillas in my Orzo Pasta Salad recipe. This salad you guys, it’s so good and just about perfect for spring, which is almost knocking on the door. It has kale, pomegranate and not to forget the beautiful oranges. Don’t they look super pretty?
It’s so fresh thanks to the orange vinaigrette. For the vinaigrette other than fresh orange juice, I also used 1/2 teaspoon of Nielsen-Massey Pure Orange Extract. Did you know that Nielsen-Massey uses as few ingredients as possible when producing its pure extracts to create the highest-quality product available? All their products are also all-natural, certified gluten-free, certified Kosher, allergen-free and GMO-Free. Follow Nielsen-Massey on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to keep updated with the products and for some great recipe inspiration!
Citrus salad dressings are my favorite. You require few simple ingredients to make them and they are guaranteed to make your salad taste good. Other than orange juice and extract, this one also has honey & balsamic vinegar. I hope you guys enjoy this colorful salad, I feel happy just looking at it because it reminds me that spring is right here!
Method
Cook orzo pasta according to instructions on the package. Set aside.
In a bowl, whisk together orange juice, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, salt, pepper and Nielsen-Massey Pure Orange Extract.
In another large bowl, toss together cooked orzo pasta, chopped kale, sliced oranges, pomegranate. Pour over the prepared dressing and mix to combine.
Serve the salad as such or chill for few hours then serve.
* Use maple syrup in place of honey to keep the salad all vegan.
* The cook time is the time taken to cook the orzo pasta.
Orzo Pasta Salad with Kale, Pomegranate & Orange Vinaigrette
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup uncooked orzo pasta
- 1.5 cups chopped kale
- 1/3 cup pomegranate seeds
- 12 orange slices
orange vinaigrette
- 1/4 cup orange juice
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon honey or use maple syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon Nielsen-Massey orange extract
- salt to taste
- black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook orzo pasta according to instructions on the package. Set aside.
- In a bowl, whisk together orange juice, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, salt, pepper and Neilsen Massey Pure Orange Extract.
- In another large bowl, toss together cooked orzo pasta, chopped kale, sliced oranges, pomegranate. Pour over the prepared dressing and mix to combine.
- Serve the salad as such or chill for few hours then serve.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Orzo Pasta Salad with Orange Vinaigrette
Love all your recipes will definitely try this!!
Exactly, planning helps..too bad I suck at it..haha..Thank Marcie!
Thanks Sarah!