Description
A vibrant and refreshing Greek Orzo Salad featuring tender orzo pasta, crisp vegetables, tangy feta cheese, and briny Kalamata olives, all tossed in a zesty lemon-oregano dressing. Perfect as a light lunch or a flavorful side dish, this salad is easy to prepare and bursting with Mediterranean flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad
- 1 cup orzo pasta
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup cucumber, diced
- ½ cup red onion, finely chopped
- ¾ cup feta cheese, crumbled
- ½ cup Kalamata olives, pitted and halved
- ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
Dressing
- â…“ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook the orzo: Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook the orzo pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta and rinse it under cold water to stop the cooking process and cool it down.
- Prepare the vegetables: While the orzo cooks, halve the cherry tomatoes, dice the cucumber, and finely chop the red onion into bite-sized pieces.
- Combine salad ingredients: In a large bowl, mix together the cooled orzo, chopped cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, crumbled feta cheese, pitted and halved Kalamata olives, and chopped fresh parsley.
- Make the dressing: In a separate small bowl, whisk together the extra virgin olive oil, freshly squeezed lemon juice, dried oregano, salt, and pepper until well emulsified.
- Toss the salad: Pour the dressing over the orzo salad mixture and gently toss all the ingredients to ensure they are evenly coated with the dressing.
- Chill and serve: Cover the salad and refrigerate it for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to blend beautifully before serving.
Notes
- For added texture and flavor, consider adding chopped bell peppers or fresh mint.
- This salad can be prepared a day in advance and stored in the refrigerator.
- Use gluten-free orzo pasta to make this dish gluten-free.
- Adjust the amount of lemon juice and oregano according to your taste preference.
- Serve chilled for the best flavor and refreshing experience.
