all the flavors of a typical BLT but in an easy orzo salad! the ultimate dish for summer, great for BBQs, gatherings and parties.
I am a big pasta salad lover. I haven’t gotten around to making an orzo salad yet though so I am glad I finally did. I love orzo, the shape is just terrific. It lends itself well to this salad. Filled with vegan bacon, dinosaur kale, ripe grape tomatoes, and a vegan yogurt ranch style dressing.
Vegan Bacon
There are a lot of brands of vegan bacon out there now, which is so awesome! I decided to use the Sweet Earth Benevolent Bacon as I like the texture and flavor. The one from Hooray Foods is also very good but it is more expensive than Sweet Earth. Either way whatever one you use, just make sure it is one you like and don’t overcook it. If you want to use a homemade tempeh bacon or coconut bacon instead you definitely can.
The Dressing
This orzo salad definitely needed a creamy and flavorful dressing. I have really been enjoying Kite Hill’s vegan Greek-style yogurt! As it is provides some extra plant protein and it is thick. Just make sure you use any unsweetened yogurt. This is combined with a little vegan mayo and lots of seasonings to create a ranch style dressing. I felt that this would work well with everything and it definitely did!
More Summer Salads
Vegan BLT Orzo Salad FAQ
- Why did you use kale? I like that kale is sturdy and I knew this would hold up in the fridge better.
- How long does this last? 3 to 4 days in the fridge.
- What else can I add to it? I think it was honestly great as is but if you wanted to add in chickpeas or avocado that would be delicious.
- What can I sub the orzo for? You can use any pasta you like. There is also gluten free orzo.
- How to make this gluten free? Just swap for gluten free orzo and make sure the vegan bacon you pick doesn’t have vital wheat gluten.
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Vegan BLT Orzo Salad
Ingredients
Salad
- ⅔ cup (112g) orzo, dry
- 4 slices (82g) vegan bacon
- 15 grape tomatoes (5 ounces/140g), halved
- 3 leaves (1.5 ounces/42g) Dino kale
Dressing
- ⅓ cup (85g) vegan Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon vegan mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons water
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon dried parsley
Instructions
- Prepare the orzo according to package directions. Once cooked, strain, and rinse with cold water.
- At the same time prepare the vegan bacon according to package directions.
- Once bacon is done cooking, chop it into small pieces.
- To prepare the dino kale remove the long thick stem and then finely chop it.
- Prepare the dressing by adding all ingredients into a bowl or measuring cup. Mix together. I like to use an electric frother or you can use a whisk. Taste and adjust any seasonings to preference.
- Add all ingredients into a large bowl and add the dressing. I like to save some for drizzling over top.
- Mix everything together until well coated. Garnish with black pepper and drizzle the remaining dressing. Enjoy.
Video
Notes
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