Description
This Cowboy Pasta Salad is a vibrant and flavorful dish combining tender orzo pasta with fresh vegetables, beans, and a zesty chipotle-lime dressing. Perfect as a quick side or light main, it’s easy to prepare and served chilled or at room temperature, making it an ideal choice for picnics, potlucks, or easy weeknight meals.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- 1 cup uncooked orzo
- 1 large tomato, diced
- 1 bell pepper (any color), diced
- 1/4 medium red onion, diced
- 1 cup canned corn kernels, drained
- 1 cup canned black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
Dressing Ingredients
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp lime juice
- 1 tbsp honey or maple syrup
- 1/2 tsp chipotle powder
- 1/2 tsp cumin powder
- 1 tsp sea salt (or to taste)
- 1/4 tsp black pepper (or to taste)
Instructions
- Cook the Orzo: Prepare the orzo according to the package instructions until it reaches an al dente texture. Once cooked, drain the orzo and rinse it thoroughly under cold water to stop the cooking process and cool the pasta for the salad.
- Prepare the Dressing: In a small jar or bowl, combine the extra virgin olive oil, lime juice, honey or maple syrup, chipotle powder, cumin powder, sea salt, and black pepper. Secure the lid and shake vigorously, or whisk well, to fully blend all the flavors.
- Mix the Salad: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled orzo with black beans, corn kernels, diced bell pepper, diced tomato, diced red onion, and chopped cilantro. Toss gently to distribute the ingredients evenly throughout.
- Toss with Dressing: Pour the prepared dressing over the salad mixture. Toss the salad gently but thoroughly, ensuring that every ingredient is coated well with the chipotle-lime dressing. Serve the salad chilled or at room temperature as desired.
Notes
- For a vegan version, substitute honey with maple syrup as mentioned.
- You can use fresh corn if available; just blanch it before adding.
- Adjust chipotle powder for desired heat level.
- To make it gluten-free, use gluten-free pasta instead of orzo.
- This salad can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
