Cranberry Orzo Salad
Bright, refreshing, and bursting with flavor, Cranberry Orzo Salad is the perfect blend of textures and tastes for any occasion. This vibrant dish combines tender orzo pasta with sweet dried cranberries, crisp cucumber, earthy baby spinach, and tangy feta cheese, all tossed in a zesty homemade lemon-honey vinaigrette. Finished with toasted slivered almonds for a delightful crunch, this salad is ideal as a light lunch, side dish, or potluck favorite. Ready in just 25 minutes, this quick and easy recipe effortlessly balances sweet, tangy, and savory flavors for a crowd-pleasing dish that's sure to impress.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 1.5 cups Orzo pasta
- 0.75 cups Dried cranberries
- 2 cups Baby spinach, chopped
- 1 medium Cucumber, diced
- 0.25 cups Red onion, finely chopped
- 0.5 cups Feta cheese, crumbled
- 0.25 cups Slivered almonds, toasted
- 0.25 cups Olive oil
- 3 tablespoons Fresh lemon juice
- 1.5 tablespoons Honey
- 1 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 0.5 teaspoons Salt
- 0.25 teaspoons Black pepper
Instructions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the orzo pasta and cook according to the package instructions until al dente, approximately 8-10 minutes. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process. Set aside to cool.
While the orzo cools, prepare the dressing. In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, fresh lemon juice, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper until emulsified. Set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled orzo, dried cranberries, chopped baby spinach, diced cucumber, red onion, and crumbled feta cheese. Toss gently to mix.
Pour the dressing over the salad and toss until all the ingredients are evenly coated.
Sprinkle the toasted slivered almonds on top just before serving for added crunch.
Serve immediately or chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together. Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
2596 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 104.1 g | 133% | |
| Saturated Fat | 26.6 g | 133% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 5.3 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 100 mg | 33% | |
| Sodium | 2700 mg | 117% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 360.2 g | 131% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 31.1 g | 111% | |
| Total Sugars | 111.0 g | ||
| Protein | 65.8 g | 132% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 860 mg | 66% | |
| Iron | 17.1 mg | 95% | |
| Potassium | 1366 mg | 29% | |
*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.
