Description
Ultimate Orzo Pasta Salad: Light, Flavorful Bliss is a delightful Mediterranean-inspired dish that bursts with vibrant flavors and fresh ingredients. Perfect for picnics, potlucks, or light weeknight dinners, this salad combines tender orzo pasta with crisp vegetables and a zesty lemon dressing for a refreshing taste experience. Easy to prepare in just 25 minutes, it’s versatile enough to serve as a main course or side dish. With every bite, you’ll enjoy the crunch of fresh vegetables complemented by the creamy texture of feta-style cheese and the rich notes of extra virgin olive oil. Elevate your meals with this nutritious and crowd-pleasing salad!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 ½ cups dry orzo pasta
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup cucumber, diced
- ½ cup red bell pepper, finely chopped
- ⅓ cup red onion, finely diced
- ¼ cup Kalamata-style olives, sliced
- ½ cup crumbled feta-style cheese
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon honey
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Cook the orzo pasta in salted boiling water until al dente according to package instructions. Drain and cool.
- While the pasta cools, wash and chop all vegetables and herbs.
- In a mixing bowl, combine the cooled orzo with cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red bell pepper, red onion, olives, parsley, and dill.
- In another bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, honey, salt, and black pepper until smooth.
- Pour the dressing over the salad mixture; toss gently to coat.
- Fold in crumbled feta-style cheese. Chill before serving.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (approximately 200g)
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 320mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 8g
- Cholesterol: 0mg