Dairy-Free Mediterranean Orzo Pasta Salad
Bright, fresh, and irresistibly wholesome, this Dairy-Free Mediterranean Orzo Pasta Salad is a flavorful celebration of vibrant veggies, protein-packed chickpeas, and tender orzo pasta, all brought together under a zesty homemade lemon and olive oil dressing. Perfect for those following a dairy-free diet, this recipe combines crunchy cucumbers, sweet cherry tomatoes, briny Kalamata olives, and fragrant parsley—delivering Mediterranean-inspired flavors with every bite. Ready in just 25 minutes, it's an ideal dish for meal prep, potlucks, or as a light yet satisfying meal. Best served chilled or at room temperature, this pasta salad is a refreshing choice for warm days or any time you're craving a healthy, plant-based option.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 1.5 cups orzo pasta
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes
- 1 medium cucumber
- 0.5 medium red onion
- 0.5 cup Kalamata olives
- 1 medium bell pepper
- 0.5 cup fresh parsley
- 1 can chickpeas
- 0.25 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 0.25 cup lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 0.5 teaspoon salt
- 0.25 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the orzo pasta and cook for 8-10 minutes or until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process. Set aside.
While the orzo is cooking, prepare the vegetables. Halve the cherry tomatoes, dice the cucumber, slice the red onion thinly, chop the bell pepper into small pieces, and slice the Kalamata olives. Roughly chop the fresh parsley.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked orzo, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, bell pepper, Kalamata olives, parsley, and drained chickpeas.
For the dressing, mince the garlic cloves and in a small bowl, whisk together the extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, red wine vinegar, minced garlic, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper.
Pour the dressing over the orzo and vegetables. Toss everything together until well combined and all ingredients are evenly coated with the dressing.
Cover the pasta salad and let it chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld.
Serve chilled or at room temperature. Enjoy your delicious dairy-free Mediterranean orzo pasta salad!
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
2660 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 103.0 g | 132% | |
| Saturated Fat | 13.0 g | 65% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.2 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% | |
| Sodium | 2672 mg | 116% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 375.9 g | 137% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 61.8 g | 221% | |
| Total Sugars | 39.6 g | ||
| Protein | 78.9 g | 158% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 512 mg | 39% | |
| Iron | 29.8 mg | 166% | |
| Potassium | 2504 mg | 53% | |
*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.
