Blue Cheese Orzo Salad
Elevate your salad game with this vibrant Blue Cheese Orzo Salad—a perfect balance of creamy, tangy, and fresh flavors. Made with tender orzo pasta, crumbled blue cheese, juicy cherry tomatoes, crisp cucumber, and a hint of red onion, this dish is as colorful as it is delicious. A zesty homemade dressing of lemon juice, extra virgin olive oil, honey, and freshly ground black pepper ties it all together, while a sprinkle of parsley adds a bright, herbaceous touch. For an extra layer of texture, toss in baby spinach. Ready in just 25 minutes, this versatile salad is an ideal side dish, potluck favorite, or light main course. Whether served fresh or chilled for enhanced flavor, this easy recipe is sure to impress. Keywords: blue cheese orzo salad, quick summer salads, easy pasta salad recipe.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 1 cup orzo pasta
- 4 cups water
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 0.5 cup blue cheese, crumbled
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cucumber, diced
- 0.25 cup red onion, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 0.5 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
- 1 cup baby spinach (optional)
Instructions
Bring 4 cups of water to a boil in a medium-sized pot. Add 1 teaspoon of salt and the orzo pasta. Cook according to the package instructions until al dente, usually about 8-10 minutes.
Drain the orzo and rinse under cold water to cool it quickly. Set aside to fully drain.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked orzo, crumbled blue cheese, cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, chopped red onion, and parsley.
In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, honey, and black pepper to make the dressing.
Pour the dressing over the orzo salad and toss until everything is evenly coated.
If desired, fold in baby spinach for added greens and texture.
Transfer the salad to a serving dish or store it in the refrigerator until ready to serve. This salad can be enjoyed immediately or chilled for up to 24 hours for enhanced flavors.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
1613 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 80.6 g | 103% | |
| Saturated Fat | 27.5 g | 138% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 90 mg | 30% | |
| Sodium | 4077 mg | 177% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 179.6 g | 65% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 15.9 g | 57% | |
| Total Sugars | 18.0 g | ||
| Protein | 55.5 g | 111% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.6 mcg | 3% | |
| Calcium | 862 mg | 66% | |
| Iron | 11.2 mg | 62% | |
| Potassium | 1338 mg | 28% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
