--- title: "Meatless Friday: Fiona's Orzo Pesto Salad" description: "Students from Mary Help of Christians Academy in North Haledon, NJ, share their recipe for a fresh pasta salad: perfect for picnics!" image: https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/orzo-pesto-salad-f.png --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2019/06/07/meatless-friday-fionas-orzo-pesto-salad/#) # Meatless Friday: Fiona's Orzo Pesto Salad Jun 7, 2019 11:00:26 AM  |  by [Guest](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/guest) ![featured image](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/orzo-pesto-salad-f.png) [![meatless friday redesign](http://catholicmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/meatless-friday-redesign.png)](http://catholicmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/meatless-friday-redesign.png) Our friends at Mary Help of Christians Academy in North Haledon, New Jersey, share recipes created in their Culinary Arts program on their blog, [Our Daily Bread](https://mhcaculinary.wixsite.com/ourdailybread). This recipe is printed here with permission from MHCA Culinary Arts teacher Frank LaMendola. This is a quick and easy recipe that tastes as fresh and colorful as it looks. Loaded with flavor and healthy garden fresh ingredients my mom would always make this whenever there were left overs in the house. You can use orzo or any shape pasta, and with just a few simple ingredients, this tasty, satisfying dish may become one of your family favorites as well. [!["Meatless Friday: Fiona's Orzo Pesto Salad" (CatholicMom.com)](http://catholicmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/orzo-pesto-salad.png)](http://catholicmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/orzo-pesto-salad.png) Copyright 2019 Mary Help of Christians Academy Culinary Arts. All rights reserved. Used with permission.[/caption] ### Fiona's Orzo Pesto Salad 1 box of orzo (or any type of pasta ) 2 medium bell peppers, chopped 1 small red onion, finely chopped 2 boxes of cherry tomatoes 1 cup Parmesan cheese Splash of lemon juice Salt and pepper to taste 3 tbs homemade [pesto](https://www.thespruceeats.com/classic-basil-pesto-pesto-alla-genovese-2019562) Bring salted water to a boil and cook orzo until *al dente*. Make [simple pesto recipe](https://www.thespruceeats.com/classic-basil-pesto-pesto-alla-genovese-2019562). Dice onion and bell peppers. Cut cherry tomatoes in halves; set aside. Once orzo is cooked through, drain and place in a separate bowl, allow to cool. Add pesto to pasta and mix thoroughly making sure the orzo is evenly coated. Place vegetables in with the orzo and mix together. Add a splash of lemon juice and add salt and pepper. Let sit at room temperature or serve immediately. ### **[What's cooking? Find all our Meatless Friday featured recipes here](http://catholicmom.com/tag/meatless-fridays/).** --- *Copyright 2019 Mary Help of Christians Academy Culinary Arts* **About the author:** Mary Help of Christians Academy, located in the Diocese of Paterson, is a private Catholic secondary school for young women. It is conducted by the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, the Salesian Sisters of St. John Bosco, in collaboration with laypersons committed to Catholic education. ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2019%2F06%2F07%2Fmeatless-friday-fionas-orzo-pesto-salad%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2019%2F06%2F07%2Fmeatless-friday-fionas-orzo-pesto-salad%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2019%2F06%2F07%2Fmeatless-friday-fionas-orzo-pesto-salad%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Meatless%20Friday%3A%20Fiona%27s%20Orzo%20Pesto%20Salad) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2019%2F06%2F07%2Fmeatless-friday-fionas-orzo-pesto-salad%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2019%2F06%2F07%2Fmeatless-friday-fionas-orzo-pesto-salad%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Guest](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Profile%203.jpg) ### [Guest](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/guest) We welcome guest contributors who graciously volunteer their writing for our readers. 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To inquire about serving as a guest contributor, contact editor@CatholicMom.com. ## Related Blog Articles [ Meatless Friday: Vegetable Stew Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2018/10/05/meatless-friday-vegetable-stew/) [ Meatless Friday: Pasta alla Norma Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2020/01/03/meatless-friday-pasta-alla-norma/) [ Meatless Friday: Risotto Milanese Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2019/10/04/meatless-friday-risotto-milanese/) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! 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