Home > Salads > Pasta Salads > Mediterranean Orzo Salad Mediterranean Orzo Salad February 12, 2024 | 2 Comments SAVE TO RECIPE BOX Jump to Recipe This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy. Mediterranean Orzo Salad is loaded with veggies and tossed in the best lemon vinaigrette. Super easy to throw together and a total crowd-pleaser! Mediterranean Orzo Salad Is… Packed with flavor: Tangy feta, sweet tomatoes, savory olives, and the BEST lemon vinaigrette. Nutritious and light: Features an olive-oil-based vinaigrette, loads of veggies, and beneficial fats. Easy to prepare: A straightforward recipe. Versatile: Perfect as a main dish, side, or for potlucks. Adaptable: Simple to modify to suit tastes or dietary requirements. Meal prep friendly: Ideal for preparing ahead, making meal prep a breeze. Mediterranean Orzo Salad Ingredients Orzo pasta: Not to be confused with rice! Grape tomatoes: Choose ripe and firm for best flavor and texture. Mini cucumbers: Or English cucumbers. Kalamata olives: Or grab black olives if you prefer. Feta cheese: Crumble from a block for better flavor. Avocado: A perfectly ripe avocado adds a nice creaminess. Parsley: Stick to flat-leaf, not curly parsley. Dressing Red wine vinegar: Select a good brand. Dijon mustard: Don’t use yellow mustard. Italian seasoning: Or use dried Oregano. Garlic: Fresh minced for stronger flavor; jarred for quicker prep. Olive oil: Extra-virgin for best flavor. Honey: Add to desired sweetness. Lemon: Zest with a microplane; juice with this citrus juicer. How To Make Mediterranean Orzo Salad Dress: Combine dressing ingredients; set aside. Cook orzo: Boil in salted water, drain, rinse. Toss: Mix orzo with some dressing. Mix: Add tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, feta, (avocado, parsley optional). Season: Add more dressing, salt, and pepper to taste. Serve/store: Enjoy immediately or keep ingredients separate for later. QUICK TIP Boil pasta in well-salted water to season it from the inside, which enhances flavor and keeps your pasta salad from being bland! What To Serve Alongside Mediterranean Orzo Salad Chicken or Fish: Seasoned with herbs and lemon. Pita and Hummus: For a light and complementary side. Roasted Vegetables: Your fave veggies with olive oil and herbs. Fresh fruit platter: Figs, grapes, and melons will pair nicely. Cheese platter: With goat cheese, halloumi, olives, and nuts. Quinoa Salad: Simple, with lemon juice and herbs. Cold cuts and charcuterie: For some added protein. STORAGE Store the Mediterranean Orzo Salad by keeping the dressing separate from the other ingredients. Refrigerate the salad, veggies, and dressing in separate airtight containers. Mix just before serving. Consume within 3-4 days for best freshness. Storing the fully combined salad will result in sogginess as the pasta absorbs the dressing. Add Some Protein On The Side: Grilled Chicken Marinade Air Fryer Falafel Grilled Flank Steak Best Baked Cod Greek Chicken FOLLOW ALONG! Subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for the latest updates, recipes and content. Mediterranean Orzo Salad 5 from 1 vote - Review this recipe Mediterranean Orzo Salad is loaded with veggies and tossed in the best lemon vinaigrette. Super easy to throw together and a total crowd-pleaser! SAVE TO RECIPE BOX Print Recipe Mediterranean Orzo Salad 5 from 1 vote - Review this recipe SAVE TO RECIPE BOX Print Recipe Mediterranean Orzo Salad is loaded with veggies and tossed in the best lemon vinaigrette. Super easy to throw together and a total crowd-pleaser! Course lunch, Main Course, Salad, Side Dish Cuisine Healthy, Mediterranean, Vegetarian Keyword Mediterranean Orzo Salad Prep Time 30 minutes minutes Total Time 30 minutes minutes Servings 6 servings Chelsea Lords Calories 247kcal Author Chelsea Lords Cost $9.12 EquipmentOptional: microplane and juicer (Note 1) Ingredients▢ 1 cup uncooked orzo pasta▢ 2 cups (12 oz) grape tomatoes, halved▢ 2 mini cucumbers, diced (1-1/3 cups)▢ ¾ cup kalamata olives, halved▢ 2 oz feta, (1/2 up to 1 cup) crumbled (Note 2)▢ Optional: 1 large avocado diced, ¼ cup finely chopped flat-leaf parsleyDressing▢ 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar▢ 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard▢ ½ teaspoon each: dried Italian seasoning and fresh minced garlic▢ ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil▢ 1½ teaspoons honey▢ 1½ tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice (plus 1/4 tsp zest) (1 lemon)▢ Salt and pepper (recommend ¼ tsp salt and ⅛ tsp pepper) InstructionsDRESSING: Combine all dressing ingredients in a jar, shake well, and pop in the fridge until ready to use. Shake again before using. (Can make ahead of time--see Note 3.)ORZO: Cook orzo in salted boiling water (2 tsp salt in 8 cups water) as per package instructions. Drain, rinse with cold water, and toss with 2 tbsp dressing.ASSEMBLE: For immediate serving, mix orzo with all salad ingredients, add dressing to taste, adjust seasoning, and serve. If you want to enjoy salad throughout the week, store components separately and assemble as needed to prevent sogginess and avocado browning. Video Recipe NotesNote 1: Lemons: We like to zest the lemon with a microplane & juice with this citrus juicer. Note 2: Feta: Add feta as you like it. Begin with 1/2 cup, then add more to personal preference. If using less feta, you might need a bit more salt to compensate. Note 3: Dressing: The dressing can be prepared in advance. If it solidifies or clumps, that's just the olive oil hardening. Let it sit at room temperature for 20 minutes and then give it a good shake to re-emulsify. Nutrition FactsServing: 1serving | Calories: 247kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 8mg | Sodium: 405mg | Potassium: 297mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 785IU | Vitamin C: 13mg | Calcium: 76mg | Iron: 1mg We do our best to provide accurate nutritional analysis for our recipes. Our nutritional data is calculated using a third-party algorithm and may vary, based on individual cooking styles, measurements, and ingredient sizes. Please use this information for comparison purposes and consult a health professional for nutrition guidance as needed. DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE? I love hearing from you when you've made one of my recipes! Tag me on Instagram at @ChelseasMessyApron or leave me a comment below.
