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Mediterranean orzo salad in white serving bowl with serving spoons.
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5 from 8 votes

Mediterranean Orzo Salad

Mediterranean orzo salad is a crowd-favorite side dish. Crisp vegetables, savory feta cheese, tender orzo pasta, and fresh lemon dressing make it zesty, nutritious, and irresistible!
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Greek, Mediterranean
Diet: Vegetarian
Servings: 7 cups
Calories: 274kcal
Author: Traci

Equipment

Ingredients

Pasta Salad Ingredients

  • 1 ¼ cup Dry Orzo (8 ounces)
  • ½ large English Cucumber chopped (1 cup)
  • 1 cup Cherry Tomatoes halved (8 ounces)
  • ½ large Red Bell Pepper diced (1 cup)
  • ¼ large Red Onion diced (½ cup)
  • ¼ cup Capers
  • ¼ cup Fresh Parsley chopped
  • 2 tablespoons Fresh Dill chopped
  • 4 ounces Feta Cheese (½ cup)

Dressing Ingredients

  • 1 large Lemon zested and juiced
  • ⅓ cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • 1 clove Garlic grated
  • ½ teaspoon Kosher Salt
  • ¼ teaspoon Black Pepper

Instructions

  • Cook the orzo: Bring 6 cups water + 1 teaspoon salt to a boil. Add dry ORZO PASTA and cook for about 10 minutes until the orzo is cooked to your liking. Drain and rinse under cold water until cooled.
    (recommended) Add a splash of olive oil to the cooled pasta to prevent sticking.
  • Make the dressing: Add LEMON ZEST, LEMON JUICE, OLIVE OIL, GARLIC, SALT, and PEPPER to a lidded jar. Shake to combine or whisk in a mixing bowl.
  • Assemble: Place cooked ORZO, CUCUMBERS, TOMATOES, BELL PEPPER, ONIONS, CAPERS, PARSLEY, DILL, and FETA CHEESE in a mixing bowl.
    *See make-ahead note in recipe notes.
  • Serve: Pour the LEMON DRESSING over the salad and toss gently to combine. Serve chilled.
  • Storing leftovers: Refrigerate orzo pasta salad in an airtight container for up to three days.

Notes

  • Cook the orzo pasta to your liking. Whether it's al dente or extra soft, either texture will make the best orzo pasta salad because it's customized to you.
  • To make ahead, store the lemon dressing separately from the orzo salad for up to 48 hours until ready to serve.
  • Orzo salad will keep well for 2-3 days, though the vegetables may lose some of their crispness. You can toss in fresh veggies when serving.
  • Add a splash of olive oil or lemon juice when serving leftover orzo salad to spruce up the texture.
  • Before serving, rest orzo pasta salad at room temperature for about 10 minutes to ensure the olive oil in the dressing isn't solidified.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 274kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 14mg | Sodium: 532mg | Potassium: 247mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 717IU | Vitamin C: 31mg | Calcium: 106mg | Iron: 1mg