Description
Orzo Salad is a light and flavorful dish made with orzo pasta, fresh vegetables, herbs, and a tangy dressing. It’s often served cold and can include ingredients like cherry tomatoes, cucumber, feta cheese, olives, and lemon vinaigrette perfect for picnics, lunches, or as a side dish.
Ingredients
3 tablespoons olive oil
3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more as needed
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more as needed
12 ounces dried orzo pasta (about 2 cups)
1 (12-ounce) jar marinated artichoke hearts, drained and coarsely chopped
1 (12-ounce) jar roasted red peppers, drained and coarsely chopped
1/2 large English cucumber, diced
1 small red onion, finely chopped
1 cup pitted Kalamata olives, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup loosely packed coarsely chopped fresh parsley leaves
6 ounces feta cheese, crumbled (about 1 1/2 cups)
Instructions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Meanwhile, whisk the oil, vinegar, oregano, salt, and a few grinds of black pepper together in a large bowl; set aside.
Add the orzo to the water and cook until al dente, 7 to 9 minutes or according to package instructions. Drain and run briefly under cool water to cool the orzo down. Drain well again.
Add the orzo, artichoke hearts, peppers, cucumbers, red onion, and olives to the bowl of dressing. Toss thoroughly to combine. Add the parsley and feta and toss again. Let sit 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, to allow the flavors to meld. Taste and season with more salt and pepper as needed.
Notes
Make ahead: The pasta salad can be made a day ahead and refrigerated overnight. Let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes to take the chill off before serving.
Storage: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10minutes
- Category: Salad
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Calories: 293kcal
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 507mg
- Fat: 17g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 9g
Keywords: Orzo Salad